Ministry of Nature Protection expresses negative opinion

The project for building “Stepanavan-1’ small hydropower plant on the Dzoraget River has received a negative opinion of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection, coordinator of the Stepanavan Aarhus Center Ms. Manya Melikjanian told EcoLur.

On December 13, the eco-activists of the Stepanavan Aarhus Center together with Norik Hayrapetyan, a senior expert of the Ministry’s Water Resource Management Agency, examined the issue of building the“Stepanavan-1” small hydropower plant on the Dzoraget River. The environmentalists expressed concern about the hydropower plant’s construction. It is planned to build that small hydropower plant in the Dzoraget Gorge, which is an excellent place for recreation and tourism. “Much to our joy, the Ministry of Nature Protection has expressed a negative opinion about the plant’s construction as the Dzoraget Gorge is considered a tourism zone and the construction of a small hydropower plant there will hinder the development of tourism and destroy the ecosystem of the gorge,” Manya Melikjanian said during a talk with EcoLur.

In her words, a letter on behalf of the residents of the city of Stepanavan was sent on December 6 to Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunian. The letter asks the minister not to give permission to Molbert LLC for construction of “Stepanavan-1” small hydropower plant. In addition, the local residents sent a letter to Stepanavan Mayor Mikael Gharakeshian, asking him to confirm that the area is a tourism zone.