State of Emergency in Ararat City: Residents Claim an Epidemic is Looming

Today, December 16, residents of private homes located at the intersection of Muratsan and Amenaprgich streets in Ararat city, who have lived there since the Soviet era, gathered once again in the street, awaiting a definitive answer regarding who will eliminate the stench and unsanitary conditions in the area.

In a conversation with Shamshyan.com, the residents stated, “We have been living here since the Soviet times, giving several generations. We hoped that sewage systems would be constructed during the Soviet era, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union, we have been left at the mercy of the Armenian authorities. It’s fine now since it’s winter, and the smell is not as offensive, but in the summer we can't stay on the street for more than a minute. We have appealed to the previous authorities, who constantly respond with the same two words—wait and live with hope. They’ve probably heard that hope dies last. Is it the case that the whole neighborhood has to die before they come to resolve the issue?

Recently, we have also addressed the Ararat regional administration and the Ararat city municipality. They have provided the same response. We believed that our situation would improve after the change of government, but still, nothing has changed.

When we appeal to the Ararat city municipality, they say it’s not their job; it’s the responsibility of “Veolia Water,” but “Veolia Water” has no functions here because the municipality itself should create a project and either apply to “Veolia Water” or some organization dealing with such activities to announce a tender, and the winner would come and do the work. We have made payments for years for services that have not been rendered— all receipts are available. Those receipts have been collected since '60. If we had turned those receipts in for recycling, we might have solved our sewage issue by now.

We would have invested that payment money and taken care of ourselves. Now we want to believe the authorities that our issue will finally be resolved.”