"Zhoghovurd" daily writes:
"Yesterday, the doors leading to the Vedu community hall were closed to residents. Environmentalists, activists and local residents were not allowed to enter the hall where a vote was to be held in connection with the first step of turning the Red Mountain into a mine, with a chain of policemen.
The official excuse was "they were not registered". After several hours of arguments, people were finally able to enter, but the result did not change. The Vedu Council of Elders unanimously voted in favor of Ord Group LLC's project, clearing the way for the company to begin an environmental impact study.
We are talking about the Karmir Sari limestone mine and later the cement factory. Ord Group aims to conduct mining on the mountain adjacent to the seven villages of the enlarged communities of Artashat and Vedu, directly above the agricultural lands of Aygezard, Ginevet and other settlements. Promises of "several hundred" jobs, "minimal impact on the environment", "modern filters". familiar expressions that are heard at the beginning of the history of almost every mine.
It is not the first time that Red Mountain is at the center of the struggle. The preliminary hearings held on October 13 in Ginevet were also "filtered" by the police.
As the "Zhoghovurd" daily wrote back in October, the Ord Group project was presented with the "image" of investing only 25-35 million drams, which was opposed to the requirement of protection of plants and animals registered in the Red Book. a small amount for a large environmental and social price. "ORD" LLC, sister of Ord Group, tried to "take" the same mountain for years, but received a negative conclusion based on 8 points from the EIA. Other companies, "ML Mining" and "Bedek", the son of ex-MP Mher Sedrakyan, backed away from their intention to turn Karmir Sar into a mine. However, Levon Ordukhanyan's appetite is not quenched.
Ordukhanyan, known for the multi-story boom in the city, reached Ved after covering sections of Komitas, Abovyan-Tumanyan streets with construction dust.
Of course, the decision of Vedu Council of Elders the day before is still not the final permission. the last word is the Ministry of Environment. But the "public" hearings protected by the police have already shown which side the government is on in this struggle."
