Large Number of Dead Fish Found as Gold Mine Waste Pollutes River

A large number of dead fish have been discovered in the stunning river of Dzoraget in the Lori region. Many Malekjanyan, the president of the Lori Eco-Club NGO, alerted the public via her Facebook page, stating: “The waste from the gold mine in Armanis is flowing into the river.” Residents of Stepanavan have reported to the Lori Eco-Club about the deteriorating condition of the Dzoraget River, which has been worsening day by day.

According to them, the multipurpose gold mine in Armanis has polluted about two kilometers of the Dzoraget River. Locals have found a large number of dead fish in the area mentioned. While the plant is not operating at full capacity, it still poses a significant threat to the beautiful Lori region.

Residents believe that the cause of the fish deaths is the discharge of wastewater from the gold mine operating in the administrative territory of Armanis, which flows into the river and wreaks havoc. The Lori Eco-Club notes that the issue with the Dzoraget River is not new; for years, the river has been polluted due to the open-pit mining operations of the Armanis gold mine. The mining site, as well as the gold factory, are located very close to residential areas.

For years, residents have raised the issue of subjecting the operations of the enterprise to public monitoring. In order to resolve the aforementioned problem, the Lori Eco-Club has contacted the Ministry of Environment’s hotline, demanding that the responsible authorities condemn, punish, and hold accountable the barbaric actions taking place. “Save the future of our city!”