Illegal Stone Extraction Cases Discovered

The Geodesy and Land Use Supervision Department of the RA Ministry of Urban Development, Technical and Fire Safety Inspection Body conducted inspections on June 4-5 and June 10-11, 2019, in the communities of Kakavadzor and Verin Bazmaberd in the Aragatsotn region.

According to the Department of Information, Consultancy, and Public Relations of the RA Ministry of Urban Development, the inspection revealed through document verification and field examinations that stone extraction works are being carried out by private companies in agricultural lands designated for pasture and operational agricultural purposes, as well as field roads owned by citizens and communities.

Documents confirming the change of targeted use of these agricultural lands for industrial, mineral utilization, and other production purposes, as well as the leasing of the changed lands, were not presented. As a result, violations of Article 43 of the RA Land Code and Clause 3 of Article 17 of the RA Code on Subsoil have occurred.

Based on the findings of the inspection, relevant materials have been sent to the Aragatsotn regional prosecutor's office for further action regarding the recorded violations and to hold accountable those responsible for the legal breaches in accordance with the law.