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Construction of the NamakhvanHESs Cascade Renewed

December 26, 2012
Mari Tabidze, Tskaltubo

Construction of the cascade of Namakhvani Hydro Electro Stations was renewed in the bed of the Rioni River in Tskaltubo district. However, locals do not know who implements construction activities.

According to the project, there are three dams in the cascade of Namakhvani HESs; they are: Tvishi, Namakhvani and Zhoneti HESs. Project territory is located between Lajanuri and Gumati HESs in the Rioni River. Total power of the project is 250 mega watts. Tvishi Dam is to be constructed above Tvishi and Goni villages – in the narrow part of the Rioni River, three kilometers away from Namakhvani village. Zhoneti Dam will be constructed above Zhoneti village, in the wider part of the Rioni.

Residents of Mekveni and Derchi villages protest construction of Namakhvani HESs. “Our main occupation is agriculture. Construction of such a huge dam will impact our land and we will not receive harvest. Trees will not grow and the area will get wet. Do you want me to continue naming possible problems? Somebody shall pay attention to us and consider our opinions too,” said Levan Simsive, resident of Derchi village.

Specialists said construction activities might increase risk of landslides and erosion in the area. Besides that, the dam will impact micro-climate of the region. Even more, environmentalists do not exclude that changed climate might cause forcible eviction of local population because the dam will negatively influence on their agriculture and living conditions.

Imereti regional agro-ecological association does not appreciate the construction of giant HES either. Professor Roza Lortkipanidze said, “There are creeping rocks in the area that were not studied properly. The HES construction threats not only the villages in Tskaltubo district, but also Kutaisi and Imereti region in general. We demand all details of the dam construction were studied by specialists and experts and exclude all possible factors. We shared our opinions with the residents of nearby villages because they have right to know how the HESs will impact their environment. In addition to that, unique forest of the Rioni Ravine will also be annihilated by the construction of the dam.”

Members of the Wine Club also negatively evaluate the construction of Namakhvani HESs. They said possible change in the climate might threat the micro-zone of Tvishi, the wine of local origin.

Part of local governmental officials also protests the HES construction. “I welcome all kind constructions but it should not be implemented at the expense of villages and infrastructure. Besides that, the nature shall not be damaged by new constructions and we should not receive worse results in ecologic, economic and social views,” said member of the municipal board Kakha Pantskhava.

Chairman of the municipal board Mamuka Sagareishvili has different opinion. “Big part of the population supports the construction and expects resettlement. Most of local population has damaged houses but they are not going to repair them because they are preparing for resettlement. They wish this problem to be resolved and to receive relevant compensations.”

Representatives of the Tskaltubo district administration state that relevant institutions have already studied the case. The local authority cannot resolve this problem independently without Ministry of Energy.

Turkish-Korean Company had to carry out construction activities based on the cooperation memorandum signed on December 8, 2009. In February 2012 initially Korean and then Turkish company left the project of Namakhvani HESs. The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources explained the fact with unimplemented responsibilities by the parties. Afterwards, 40 companies applied for projecting the cascade and purchase of supply and construction service. Currently, local population does not know who renewed constructions in the area.

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