Dastakert: The “Armenian Ecological Front” recently raised concerns on social media about a drastic decline in population near the Dastakert mine in Armenia, highlighting that what was once a thriving city of 6,000 residents has dwindled to fewer than 200, effectively turning it into a ghost town.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the Environmental Protection First (EPF) Coalition has been investigating the environmental impact of mining operations in the region. Using their interactive digital map, the EPF Coalition revealed that the copper-molybdenum deposit in Dastakert is being exploited by “Molibdeny Ashxarh” LLC. The extraction activities have resulted in the contamination of local water sources with heavy metals, posing significant ecological threats.
The mining operations have particularly affected the Bazar River basin, where particles containing heavy metals have infiltrated the water system. This contamination has spread to the Hakari River and subsequently to the Aras River, escalating the environmental crisis. The Armenian Ecological Front’s warning serves as a reminder of the severe ecological damage caused by mining enterprises in Armenia, which threaten both the local environment and communities.
Iran’s ecological publication, “Payam-e Ma,” has also reported on the contamination of the Aras River, noting the presence of 59 heavy metals, including aluminum, arsenic, copper, manganese, molybdenum, lead, and vanadium. These pollutants are primarily traced back to Armenia’s mining activities, further emphasizing the need for urgent intervention to mitigate the environmental degradation in the region.