Reports on Environment and Urban Development for Alaverdy

GEO ALAVERDI: ENVIRONMENT AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

construction of a medical aid unit in Akner rural community, construction of a lavatory by Sanahin monastery, asphalt coverage, rehabilitation of waterways, etc. Starting from 2008 the amount of subsidies signi fi cantly increased. In 2008 the Government provided a sum of 68,226 million AMD, in 2009 - 103,564 million AMD; and for 2010 it is planning to provide 140.93 million AMD from the State Budget. All the programs developed thereafter have not been based on the results of complex environmental impact assessment in the area of Alaverdi community. Though the programs funded contributed to the improvement of the situation in general, the programs recommended by the municipality of Alaverdi did not emanate from one complex strategic objective. In January 2009, the Alaverdi Council of Elders approved the four year (2009-2012) socio-economic development program, which plans the implementation of 27 large development projects within that 4-year period. Some projects were related to cleaning of Alaverdi streets, waste collection, purchase of necessary equipment for the service of communication lines, provision of additional food to the children in primary educational institutions by using the environmental fees, organization of tree planting activity in the community area, cleaning and rehabilitation of runoff canals in the districts of Debed and Jravazan, rehabilitation of water supply and wastewater collection network of the community, reconstruction of the land fi ll for the solid domestic wastes or construction of a new land fi ll. Though it is clear that it is hard to solve all the existing issues by the limited funding, it is known also that the implemented programs do not include solutions related to pollution of ambient air, wastewater treatment, prevention of soil pollution and other urgent environmental problems. The community of Alaverdi has suf fi cient political will and readiness to start the implementation of the planned environmental programs. The current legislation already envisages (or does not prohibit) a number of coordination tasks. Thus, the staff of the municipality must have the necessary knowledge and play an active role in the process of decision-making related to the environmental protection: The authorities of Alaverdi Municipality can include the following: Issuance of permits and further update • –Organize public hearings for the programs tobe implemented inAlaverdi, analyze and consider all the comments and recommendations received and present the program to the RA Ministry of Nature Protection. Any in fl uence on the processes of issuing permits for the implementation of programs related to Alaverdi community will provide for more effective and objective decisions by the management. Monitoring of nature use companies with pollution permits • – implementation of compliance monitoring, guidelines for the permit

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CHAPTER 5. POLICY INTERVENTIONS AND INSTRUMENTS

Environmental Knowledge for Change