In Soyudlu, people were not particularly satisfied with the government

Residents of Soyudlu  Village in the Gadabay region have expressed their dissatisfaction with the government's response to environmental concerns in their community. The situation came to light during a meeting held on September 28, where members of a government-established commission discussed the results of monitoring conducted by the international monitoring company "Micon International Co Limited."

Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev presented the monitoring results to the residents of Willow Village and announced the appointment of Surkhay Nazarov as the direct contact person for residents to address environmental issues with the Ministry.

During the meeting, it was revealed that certain indicators in water bodies in Willow Village exceeded acceptable norms. The report, however, stated that these exceedances did not pose a significant threat to the environment or human health. Small amounts of cyanide were detected in the groundwater of three observation wells within the plant's territory.

The meeting also discussed plans for the phased resumption of the plant's activities following reconstruction and modernization by the "Azerbaijan International Mining Company."

While residents were presented with the results of the inspection and informed about the restoration of the old lake, their reaction indicated dissatisfaction with the decision. However, many residents refrained from discussing their concerns widely due to apprehension, given the continued presence of police control at the village's entrances and exits.

Fazil Mustafa, a member of the Milli Majlis Committee on Human Rights, in an interview with Turan acknowledged the objectivity of the commission's investigation and the validity of citizens' concerns in certain cases. He emphasized that closing the plant was not a feasible option, as it provided livelihoods to hundreds of local community members.

Mustafa pointed out that the disclosure of cyanide levels highlighted potential dangers and the need for significant changes in the plant's operations. He suggested that the transition to new technologies and methods of operation would require time and investment.

Ilgar Huseynli, the head of the Center for Social Strategic Research, in an interview with Radio Azadlig expressed   concerns about the situation in Soyudlu Village, indicating that serious environmental cleanup efforts had not been carried out effectively. He emphasized the presence of heavy metals in water and on the soil surface due to the use of chemicals in gold processing, which had previously caused harm to local farms.

Huseynli called for stringent requirements on the gold processing company to prevent environmental disasters and suggested the installation of comprehensive chemical cleaning equipment for water purification.

While discontent among residents persists, addressing their environmental concerns remains a priority for the government to avoid prolonged dissatisfaction and potential environmental hazards. Efforts to improve environmental standards and practices in the region are essential to restoring the confidence of the affected community.