Tails of Nahatak Tailing Dump Owned by Akhtala Ore Dressing Combine Dumped into Debed (video)
The tails of Nahatak tailing dump owned by Akhtala Ore Dressing Combine are dumped into the Debed River, as EcoLur eye witnessed on 12 February visiting the area of Nahatak tailing dump after the the public hearings on allotting new land area from Mets Ayrum community, Lori Region, for the construction of a new tailing dump together with the environmentalists and local residents. “Under the law, it should be isolated from environment, and as you can see, the tails flow downwards and get into the Debed River,” said Hakob Sanasaryan, Chairman of Greens Union of Armenia, and added the tails contain such heavy metals, as copper, zinc, thorium etc. One of the residents responded, “We all feel unwell, dizzy and feel like vomiting.” “All three tailings owned by Akhtala Combine experience problems with recultivation. This very tailing dumps is used for over 5 years and doesn’t prescribe any safety standards with numerous violations,” said Oleg Dulgaryan, Director of “Community Unity and Support Center” NGO, member of Mets Ayrum Aldermen’s Council, EcoLur reports.
