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"Ecolur" Report Fingers "Deno Gold Mining" for Environmental Abuses
According to Inga Zarafyan, President of the Ecolur NGO, a recent report issued by the environmental watchdog group has shown that Deno Gold Mining Ltd, a company operating out of Kapan, has caused serious damage to the local environment.
Ms. Zarafyan had presented the report, highlighting the poor environmental record of the company, to the Arhaus Center in Kapan. The Ecolur report notes that residents of the nearby village of Shahumian have still to be compensated for damages incurred and that the rural communities of Syunik and Geghanush have suffered as well. The company’s tailings dam in Geghanush has many construction violations, the report claims.
Geghanush Village Mayor Kamo Avetisyan reports that land fertility has decreased and that many residents have given up on farming in general. Mr. Avetisyan pointed out that today’s harvest from 1,000 walnut trees is dwarfed by that of just a few years ago.
The company is said to have received financial loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in order to implement a variety of socio-economic and environmental projects in the area.
Ms. Zarafyan stated, "However, the company has done nothing and continues to do nothing. Our study results have been sent to the EBRD but we haven’t yet received a response."
She added that the company refused to participate in the roundtable discussion of these issues involved, arguing that one day wasn’t sufficient time to prepare. The company said that it should have been notified one month in advance.
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