No clean river will remain in Armenia in several years, the head of Armenia's "Green Union", Hakop Sanasaryan, said at today's press-conference.
He said that the mining industry in Armenia seriously damages environment polluting the drinking and irrigation water sources. In the created situation nobody bears responsibility. Moreover, according to the legislation, the mining companies do not pay taxes for wastes.
He also added that in 5-8 years we shall be forced simply to forget about Meghri town of Syunik region of Armenia, as 19 licenses for subsoil use at this territory have been already delivered, and this will make the town unfit for human habitation.
The expert thinks that high rank officials are behind the mining industry. For this reason, the statements of ecologists about the risks in this sector are not taken seriously.
The fact that international organizations are for development of the mining industry in Armenia, is also worsening the situation as their position deprives ecologists of another opportunity to get their opinion across the government.