Meetings In the Villages of Chiatura Municipality

The civil movement “Gavigudet” attended a bus tour in Chiatura municipality, organized by USAID and the civil movement – “Momavlis Chiatura”.

Representatives of about 15 NGOs, civil activists and media took part in the tour.

In the framework of the bus tour, we visited ecological disaster zones in 5 villages – Rgani, Khaliphauri, Mghvimevi, Zodi, Itkhvisi. We met local residents, who provided us detailed information about the problems they face – how they have to fight every day to protect their living environment, how the mining company digs right into their yards and destroys their homes and property.

Mentioned villages are spots, were mining and extraction works take place, both in open careers and in mines. In Itkhvisi village we witnessed houses, collapsed as a result of mining operations; and heard from the locals, that they are afraid to even go outside, as they expect the ground to wash away from under their feet at any time.

In addition to this, tour participants saw how the river Kvitrila has been polluted by the washing of factories, which no longer flows as a river, but as a sludge.

Extraction processes also cause irreversible damages to people’s health. Nevertheless, people, in Chiatura have to fight primarily for preserving their houses, yards and nature; as forests are cut down, the fertile soil layer is destroyed, and mining company does nothing to restore it. The problem of soil destruction and excavated areas is so acute, that after all, residents ask from the mining company at least to simply fix the place after the completion of the works, so they can carry out recultivation works by themselves.

Although resisting the state and the mining companies requires enormous resources and a tireless struggle, the population is still united, persistently standing up to protect their villages.

The participants of the tour once again confirmed our support to the residents of Chiatura; Cooperation for helping these people will continue farther.

The material was prepared by “Eco Centre” in the framework of USAID civil society Engagement Program, funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The content of this material is the sole responsibility of the “Eco Centre” and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States government, or EWMI.