Chiauri Forest Swamped - Ecological Disaster and Malaria Epidemic

Chiauri Forest Swamped - Ecological Disaster and Malaria Epidemic

“Let’s protect environment” was the slogan of the protest that took place on March 10th on the Tsnori-Lagodekhi motorway near the Chiauri forest. The protestors were local NGOs, Telavi inhabitants and students from Signagi. For several hours, people who passed them were reminded and warned by placards about an impending ecological disaster and epidemic.

Lagodekhi has been facing an ecological disaster for years. The Chiaura forest spreads over about 4 thousand hectares but is currently under water. In the spring, when sediment increases and the rivers flood, water runs into the forest. Over the course of time the place has become a damp swamp. The government has made no effort to find a solution to the problem, such as drying out the swamp or preventing the river from flooding by strengthening the river banks or deepening the river bed. This lack of action creates a real danger to the inhabitants of Kakheti.
 
You no longer see birds and animals such as pheasants, young deer and pigs in the forest. One can see only faded trees on about 200 hectares of this once mighty forest. Due to constant flooding, it is also useless to cultivate the land. In addition, the motorway is often covered with water, which hinders and endangers the traffic. Sometimes, it is even impossible to travel around the area. Furthermore, there are lots of mosquitoes - perfect conditions for an outbreak of swamp fever. Cases of Malaria have already been diagnosed in the Lagodekhi region.

The central media did not attend the protest on March 10th because attention was focused on a visit to the region by the President, who was distributing ammonium to the local inhabitants. The local media however was interested and covered the protest.

According to the protestors, the interested (or frightened) Governor of the Lagodekhi region, Tamaz Godiashvili, also attended the protest, delivering “a vague speech”. “The local government is trying hard to solve this problem. Local farmers have already gathered 40 thousand laris to tackle the issue”, said the Governor. However, the sum he mentioned is nothing compared to the amount needed to carry out the necessary works.

A while after the protest we contacted the press service of the local administration. They informed us that 2 million laris had been allotted from the budget for necessary works in the forest. The administration took full responsibility for the implementation of these works.

Veriko Kobiashvili from Kakheti