Round Table – Ecological Problems in Tchiatura

Nino Tsotsoria

On March 26, Human Rights House Tbilisi organized round table to discuss ecological problems in Tchiatura. Participants discussed environment pollution caused by the manganese obtaining and processing in Tchiatura by the company Georgian Manganese. Representatives of the nongovernmental organizations and state institutions participated in the discussion. Round table – Ecological Problems in Tchiatura was opened with the screening of the documentary film Grey Tchiatura prepared by the Media Institute. 

“Situation in the town facing ecological disaster creates threat to the health and life of its population. Human Rights House Tbilisi, as a human rights organization, is responsible to contribute to the solution of this problem. We plan to conduct advocacy campaign, to draft the law and improve legislative base because current laws do not ensure effective resolution the problem,” board chair of the Human Rights House Tbilisi Nino Elbakidze said.

Environment pollution has been problem in Tchiatura district for a long time already. According to official data, in 2013 about 80% of the environment damage throughout Georgia is observed in Tchiatura municipality. Locals said Tchiatura faces threat of ecological disaster.

Chairman of the Tchiatura Residents Union Shota Gaprindashvili said it is important to find effective and right way to address the problem in order to avoid future complications.

“We must jointly develop the plan which will protect our town from environmental problems. Tchiatura is not on the edge of the eco-disaster but it is already there. I can say that it is ecocide of the local population. We must compel all parties - entrepreneurs and state to obtain the ores in our town in accordance to the laws. Otherwise, until they finish obtaining of manganese, life will stop in Tchiatura,” Shota Gaprindashvili told humanrights.ge.

According to the studies of the Caucasian Environmental NGO Network (CENN), air pollution in Tchiatura municipality is higher than norm. The organization plans to test soil and drinking water in near future.

“In 2011 our organization conducted laboratory test of the air which showed that dust concentration is three times higher than allowed. It is important that researches had complex character and that it was not episodic. In near future, our organization intends to conduct test analysis of the soil and drinking water abroad; we will necessarily share the analysis results with the society,” project manager at the CENN Nino Gaprindashvili said.

Alongside the environment pollution, disease prevention and labor rights inspecting is significant problem in Tchiatura municipality. Representative of the Disease Control Center Nana Ninashvili said labor rights inspecting is prerogative of the enterprise and it is their obligation to have relevant service, which will work on labor rights. The discussion participants believe ecological problems in Tchiatura can be resolved through coordinated work of the state, private sector and civil society.

“It is significant for the whole country to tackle the problems of Tchiatura municipality. Its addressing requires complex approach. There is environmental law, which shall be followed by every entrepreneur and institution when they obtain natural resources. We all must participate in the resolution of this problem to protect Tchiatura from becoming zone free of ecological and human resources,” representative of the Environmental Ministry of Georgia Aleksandre Mindorashvili said.

Representative of the Georgian Manganese Sofo Berishvili said the company does its best to reduce risks and resolve current problems eventually. According to Berishvili, resolution of ecological problems need long time; as for creation of safe living environment for local population, the company intends to exploit high-standard factory in future, which will meet requirements of the Georgian law and noise decibels and other parameters of the factor will meet norms.