The expert group and members of the temporary committee which was created to assess the impact of infrastructure projects on biodiversity face the public protoest. The protesters prevent the expert groups and committee members from entering the Balda Canyon area.
The members of the committee were denied entry due to huge public agitation. Due to the non-entry of committee members and expert groups it became impossible to make any assessment of the environmental impact of the project in local biodiversity.
These kinds of protests have become normal in today’s time. In recent times many such protests happened in many areas across the various parts of the country as well.
Notably there are no legal provisions that make mandatory the assessment of new projects’s impacts on biodiversity. However, given the larger public interest and based on the recommendation of the advisory council of the protected areas and the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture the decision was made in this regard.
The representative of the agency said that the assessment is underway but unfortunately could not be completed due to the adverse action of some radical groups as well.
On the other hand the protesters stated that they have no trust in the credibility of the group members and members of the expert’s group so they will not allow them to conduct the assessment on this particular area of concern.
Meanwhile the agency of Protected Areas said that this action of these radical groups is unacceptable, They also termed this as a step to hinder the process of constructive dialogue.
Agency officials said that these groups have a vested interest, Moreover they want to stop the development of this project due to their benefits.They further said that the main goal of the project was to create an additional center of attraction in the Samegrelo region of the country.
After the completion of this project he whole world will be attracted by the beauty of the project. At the same time the project also will have many positive impacts on the lives of locals like it benefits the lives of locals of Martville Canyon.
Social media user expressed their anger against the protesters and said that this was the wrong step to prevent the development of the locality as per world standards.
