ArmInfo. The Armenian government is thinking of expanding the capabilities of inspection bodies so that they can not only check and record the consequences, but also prevent such incidents. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Armenia Tigran Avinyan in a conversation with reporters on November 20, commenting on the fact of another pollution of the Voghji River.
To recall, on November 18, the Armenian Environmental Front reported that the Voghji River was once again polluted near Kapan, presenting video footage shot by one of the citizens. On October 17, the 911 service received information that the Voghji river of the Syunik region was polluted (the water in the river turned white). The operational group of the regional center for crisis management of the Ministry of Emergencies, which arrived at the site, found out that the pipeline of Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Plant CJSC was damaged near the village of Nerkin Giratagh, Syunik Region. Waste poured into the Voghji River. The staff of the regional structure of the Inspectorate for the Protection of Nature and Subsurface Resources took water samples from the river. On November 19, the Syunik Territorial Department of the Inspectorate for Conservation of Nature and Subsurface Resources of the Republic of Armenia and the employees of the Syunik Regional Police Department reported on pollution of the Voghji River and conducted a joint inspection and research, and took water samples.
"We all understand that these are inherited problems that sooner or later would arise. I think that by working calmly and methodically we will achieve the goal that we will call the" responsible mining industry "and also understand how to repair the damage done for decades, "said Tigran Avinyan.
Earlier, on October 17, it became known that the waste from the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine had been discharged into the Voghji River, which caused the river to turn brown. Before the rescuers arrived at the scene, the damaged area of the waste storage was repaired. As Minister of the Naure Protection, Erik Grigoryan, stated then, the pipes at the plant have not changed since Soviet times. According to him, the amount of damage to the environment will soon be determined, on the basis of which the amount of compensation will also be determined. At the same time, as the Minister admitted, the current regulation on restoration of environmental damage needs to be substantially revised. So, the legislator has set such ridiculous tariffs for damages that it is often more profitable for the owner of the mine to pay a fine than to modernize the infrastructure, in particular, to change the pipes. On October 31, the Prosecutor General's Office opened a criminal case on the damage to the pipeline and the pollution of the Voghji river by the waste of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine on the grounds of clause 1, part 2 of Article 284 of the RA Criminal Code (Violation of safety rules when handling hazardous chemical or biological substances and waste). As the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office reports, facts of flagrant violation of safety rules during the transportation of waste by ZCMC employees were revealed. As a result of this, one of the pipelines was damaged, the waste went into the Voghji River, which caused environmental pollution.