Residents of Pankisi Gorge demand to stop construction of three HPP

Residents of the Duisi village located in the Pankisi Gorge have conducted a protest action against the construction of a hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in the gorge. Local residents believe the construction of new HPPs in the Pankisi Gorge will pose a threat to the environment, agriculture, and tourism.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Khadori HPP was built by the Chinese state-owned "East Sichuan Energy Company" in 2004. It became the first HPP commissioned in Georgia during 20 years.

The Duisi villagers protest against the plans to build three more HPPs. Participants of the protest action held on July 20 stated that the construction would destroy the ecosystem of the Alazani River, break the landscape, and new HPPs would pose a threat to the system of drinking water supply, irrigation canals, and inhibit the development of tourism in the Pankisi Gorge.

The protesters have also announced that officials from the authorities and law enforcement bodies are exerting pressure on the opponents to the HPP construction.

The protesters have addressed Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, and Parliament Speaker Irakly Kobakhidze with a request to support the opponents of the HPP construction in the Pankisi Gorge, the "Georgia Online" reports.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 21, 2018 at 05:47 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.