The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Otar Shamugia, along with state representative of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti regions, Papuna Margvelidze, and Majoritarian MP Gocha Enukidze, inspected the ongoing infrastructural works in the village of Uravi, Ambrolauri district, in the area for the disposal of arsenic-containing waste.

“At the beginning of the year, we started to arrange the place for disposal of arsenic-containing ore-processing waste in Tsana and Uravi villages, following the decision of the government. As soon as the decision was made, the fencing of these sites began. These works have already been completed in Tsana, although activities are being taken in Uravi and will be completed shortly. Simultaneously, the work on the environmental impact assessment document and the burial project on the Tsana site is underway and will be completed soon and submitted to the competent agencies for consideration.

We expect to announce the tender for constructing the mentioned burial in the spring of next year. As long as the works are relatively large-scale, constructing will take some time. Ultimately, the completion of this project will resolve the problem in the mentioned area”, - said Otar Shamugia.

“It is crucial that the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture carries out fencing of the said territories. The process has already been completed in Svaneti, in the village of Tsana, and works in this regard are underway in the village of Uravi. Fencing these areas and isolating them from the population is important for the safety of the villagers”, - added Papuna Margvelidze.

Systematic management measures are already being taken for the disposal of waste generated by the processing of arsenic-containing ore in the Ambrolauri and Lentekhi districts, following a Government decision. Apart from fencing the arsenic-affected regions, it is intended to collect arsenic-containing waste and construction waste from buildings, remove the contaminated soil, and bury it in a specially designed burial site.