Sit-in protest continues near Trchkan waterfall
Despite the unfavourable weather conditions, environmental activists are continuing their open-ended sitting strike at the Trchkan waterfall in Lori Marz.
On October 25, members of "Let's Preserve the Trchkan Waterfall' social initiative started a sit-in near the waterfall protesting against the construction of a hydropower plant (HPP) there by the Robshin Company.
The protesters are hopeful that nature will protect the waterfall and prevent the construction of the HPP.
Edgar Harutyunyan, a member of the initiative group, told A1+ that they avoid clashes with constructors and are trying to persuade them against destroying the waterfall but to no avail. On the other hand, he believes that the workers are not eager to continue the construction either.
The environmentalist says Robert Okhanyan, owner of Robshin Company, visited the tent camp on Thursday, watched the protesters from afar and left without talking to them.
Harutyunyan says the environmentalists stay on the site day and night and have decided to build temporary dwellings. He says that some 4000- 5000 residents of neighboring Nalband and Shirakamut villages are against the construction of the HPP but are afraid of join the environmentalists. Only 4-5 people from the villages have joined them although they prefer to remain incognito.
Edgar Harutyunyan is going to negotiate with the company owner who has already spent 120 million dollars on the construction and convince him to build the HPP in some other place.
"If the government cares for the waterfall, they can compensate the company's expenses and halt the construction," he said adding that the executive body will not agree to it.
"Let's Preserve the Trchkan Waterfall' initiative has started a collection of signatures urging the Armenian government to stop the construction of the hydropower plant on the River Chichkhan.
