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Reverend Andria Advises the Government to Install Filters on the Kaspitsementi Ovens

June 17, 2008

Saba Tsitsikashvili, Gori

 

 Factori Administration

Members of European Regional Assembly visiting Shida Kartli expressed their concern over the dust produced by Kaspitsementi, cement factory in their interview with the Human Rights Centre. In the evening of June 15, 2008 the European guests were invited to village Teliani (Karaghaji), Kaspi District to see traditional Georgian wrestling. The village Teliani is situated rather high elevation. The guests saw how the dust from Kaspitsementi was powdering the Shida Kartli valley and it was an environmental hazard.

What they saw from Teliani greatly concerned the European guests very much. They took photos as well. The dust from three stacks of Kaspitsementi is distributed in into the air “safely”.  Recent research even located fallout of dust particles from Kaspitsementi even as far away as Borjomi. Reverend Andia informs that in Gori and Samtavisi Eparchy most people that suffering from cancer come from Shida Kartli. Many people claim that it is caused by the Kaspitsementi dust.

Reverend Andria raised the problem of Kaspitsementi dust at the session of the advisory council functioning within the office of regional governor. Lado Vardzelashvili, Shida Kartli Regional Governor meets with an advisory council once in two weeks. Zurab Chinchilakashvili, Deputy Governor was hosting the session in stead of Vardzelashvili when Reverend Andria highlighted the environmental problem.

Reverend Andria: “I think that at the present moment one of the most important problems are the health conditions of Kaspi District as well as Shida Kartli Region inhabitants. Many people come to me and complained about the problems in Kaspi. Many people suffer from diseases. Moreover, the majority of patients in cancer treatment centres come from Shida Kartli. I think it is necessary to eliminate the problem of Kaspitsementi dust once and forever.”

A few minutes after Reverend discussed the problem with Zurab Chinchilakashvili, who is the deputy regional governor and then a call was placed to Kakha Khachirashvili, Kaspi District Governor and questions were asked about the Kaspitsementi dust. Kaspi’s District Governor told Zurab Chinchilakashvili that filters were being installed on the stacks.

Soon Mamuka Suladze, Kaspitsementi director called Zurab Chinchilakashvili. The Deputy Governor turned loudspeaker on so that the session members could hear their conversation.

Mamuka Suladze: “One filter is installed on one oven. We are working on two others. 9 million Euros are needed for their installation. This money has been already allocated. The filters will catch the dust with a 100 % guarantee. You can arrive and see how we have installed the filters yourself.”

Members of the advisory council listened carefully to the cement factory’s Director. However, they said that they had been listening to such promises since 2004 and the filters had not been installed till now.

Only one oven worked back 2004 and even at this level of production there were many health problems for the population back then. Now three ovens are working and just filter will not resolve the situation.
 

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