EU Attaché Visited Problematic Villages in Kakheti Region

The attaché of EU in the issues of agriculture, natural catastrophes and transportation Juan Echanove visited Kakheti Region.

Juan Echanove got acquainted with the environmental problems in the village Erisimedi. The local people notified him that it has been several weeks the first floors and basements are flooded but the government does not help them. After visiting Erisimedi, Echanove met with the people living in the landslide risk zones and saw the houses dangerous for living. The attaché of EU met with the farmers from Sighnaghi region whose lands are taken by river Alazani. Juan Echanove also visited the village Satskhene in Kvareli region where he saw the shore-strengthening works conducted on the river Shorokhev. Satskhene residents told him that the works have been fulfilled only on the certain area and it has not been completed. After Satskhene Echanove visited the valley of river Duruji.

The organizer of the meeting, the coordinator of Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) Rezo Getiashvili explained to Echanove that the river-bed of the river Duruji is higher than that of Kvareli that creates danger of the flood in the city. Mr. Echanove was interested whether the local NGOs are involved in the World Bank Program which plans investment of 100 million dollars for the development of Kakheti region. The head of Kakheti Information Center Gela Mtivlishvili noted at the meeting that they are not involved in the program and just have superficial information about it.

After getting acquainted with the environmental and agricultural problems Juan Echanove and representatives of the association CENN met with the deputy Governors Giorgi Sibashvili and Petre Kiknadze and heard information on the implemented and planned works.

Juan Echanove asked the deputy Governor Giorgi Sibashvili to raise the issue to the government that the locals have the border related problems and to set up the warning signs that it is prohibited to pass beyond the concrete territory. According to Echanove, due to the absence of such signs Erisimedi residents often fall in the Azerbaijani territory and have problems.

Kakheti Information Center