NGOs doubt geologists' conclusions about reasons of landslide in Itkhvisi

The quality of the study conducted by the National Environment Agency on the reasons of the landslide that went down on the village of Itkhvisi in the Chiatura District causes doubts, as it fails to mention the activities of the "Georgian Manganese" Mining Company, NGOs assert. They have demanded to make public the mining plan in the above village and assess the soil condition there.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that residents of Georgia had repeatedly opposed the extraction of manganese by the "Georgian Manganese" Company. In November 2021, a mass protest action was held in the village of Shkmeri, where villagers had suggested that the extraction of manganese would lead to environmental degradation and damage villagers' health.

The NGOs "Social Justice Centre", "Association of Young Lawyers", "Georgian Green Movement/Friends of Georgian Land" and "Green Alternative" have issued a statement on the report of the National Environment Agency on the situation in the village of Itkhvisi.

"In late March, a landslide occurred; and cracks appeared in the village of Itkhvisi; families took refuge in other villages. After many years of construction, their houses were swallowed up by the earth. In two or three days, the two-story house of Giorgi Megrelishvili was completely destroyed; the landslide ruined up to 20 houses," says the statement.

The NGOs have noted that the report fails to mention the activities of the "Georgian Manganese" Company as a landslide reason in the village of Itkhvisi. They believe that the company is trying to escape responsibility.

The "Caucasian Knot" has also reported that on April 17, the head of the mine bay perished at the Itkhvisi manganese mine in Chiatura, owned by the "Georgian Manganese" Company.