Ecologists and local population of Kapan town of Syunik region are concerned over the open-cast operation of gold-polymetallic deposit in Shahumyan and Banavan settlements by “Dino Gold Mining” company.

At the meeting with reporters on January 17, the  heads of environmental organizations Ecolur, Ekodar and “Centre of bird lovers” Inga Zarafyan, Hrayr Svazyan and  Silva Adamyan stressed the operation of the mine is  fraught with serious environmental consequences and will bring about  health problems in the region.

The head of Ecolur stressed a 4-year-old child’s teeth were completely black in Kapan. Silva Adamyan said copper-molybdenum plant is operating in Kajaran where many children are born with defects. If the mine is exploited in an open-cast manner, the same picture will be observed in  Kapan as well.

The environmentalists stressed the Armenian authorities are not concerned over this urgent issue. “How long will this last? We are losing Zangezour. The local population will soon leave the region due to exploitation of the mine, whereas the rest of residents will suffer from serious illnesses. Does the Armenian Government only think of the operation of the mine?” Adamyan emphasized.

Though the Armenian Government has not yet given permission to “Dino Gold Mining” Company, the environmentalists are going to appeal the leadership of the company and European Bank not to finance the mine operation.