Save Cheremosh

Highlanders, environmentalists and just caring people oppose the construction of small hydropower plants on the Carpathian rivers. Activists united into a civic initiative "Saving Cheremosh."

According to the chief of the fuel and energy complex, efficient use of energy and mineral resources of Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration Vadym Koslenko, they estimated  you can build 60 mini-hydro capacity of 65 megawatts at Carpathian within five years.

"Currently there are three small hydropower plants in the region. This Snyatynska HPP, which was restored, Prominivska HPP in Verkhovyna district was built in 2009 and Zolotolypska HPP in Tlumats'kyy area, which in December last year, has been restored, - Vadim Koslenko says. Three hydropower plants are constructed now- in Verkhovyna district Dzembronska HPP, Prominivska Hpp number 2 and Holoshynska Hpp. "

However Dzembrovska HPP no longer be running. Recently, villagers of Krasnyk and Bystrets in Verkhovyna, ban similar construction. The community of these villages at the public hearing about the construction of mini-hydro unanimously voted against their constructions. Local residents and environmentalists argue that hydropower hurt local small river Dzembronya and ecosystem in particular.

"The Carpathians at the moment is a unique region, not only in Ukraine but also in the context of the whole of Europe. It is recognized by such international documents as the Carpathian Convention. Because few other places where Europe remained the same unspoiled nature, such unique natural systems, such as the tourism potential in the Ukrainian Carpathians - convinces Anatoli Pavelko representative organization "Bureau of Environmental Investigations" and a member of civil initiative "Saving Cheremosh."

According to environmentalists, one should hold a very thorough study of the question: how many plants can be built in the Carpathians without harming the ecosystem, on which areas you can do it without harming the environment without compromising the local population and other areas of the economy that developed on data areas or potentially be developed.

"We need to consider nature-protective component - Anatoly Pavelko continues. - There are many rivers in the Carpathians, on which they want to build a hydroelectric power station, where Red fish exist.

Any activity that may lead to their destruction, or the destruction of their habitat expressly prohibited by law. Moreover, if the river or any other lake there is a kind of fish that are listed as endangered, then these areas are priority areas in order to make their store into protected areas. That is, so that it is somehow guarded and not built power stations that destroy them. "

So, build or not to build - the competence of rural power. But activists emphasize civic initiative "Saving Cheremosh" primarily to protect the environment from potential hazards. "The Black Cheremosh - hydro reserve of local importance. According to the documents, any of which may lead to a breach of hydro regime of the river is prohibited.

When were HPP built at the Cheremosh or tributaries - hydro ecological regime change or not? -  Ecologist Anatoly Pavelko asks- Water quality change, velocity change. Now Black Cheremosh is the river with the greatest prospects for the business in terms of energy use. Rivers become a sort of resource electricity production and in order that someone produced energy and put it in his pocket money. "

The source: http://firtka.if.ua/