Mestia locals discuss Khudoni Dam construction with experts

International experts have met locals of Mestia in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svanetia Region of Georgia to discuss the Khudoni Dam construction on River Inguri, News Georgia cites expert Arent Kalkhof.

Locals fear an ecological and economic catastrophe, should the project be realized, as stated by teacher Zurab Nizharadze.

Georgia invited NCEA (Netherlands) to study the impact of dam construction. The Khudoni Dam remains incomplete 30 km away from the Inguri Dam. Its construction started in 1979 and was stopped in 1989 due to protests of ecologists. About $150 million have been spent on its construction. It is planned to be completed in April 2017.

Adapted from Vestnik Kavkaza