5.2 Threat to Safety In Rustavi, Mzia Telauridze and Eka Chakhvelidze informed the factfinding mission that although local residents (In the 18/19th Districts) did not initially want to move, as a result of fear for their personal safety, they now are requesting resettlement. Mrs Telauridze and Mrs Chakhvelidze told the Mission that the residents of seven buildings in the district, housing 7-800 people, now want to move because they are afraid of a gas explosion. Mrs Telauridze and Mrs Chakhvelidze said t hat this fear was based on witnessing BTC Co violate so many stated regulations. Members of the community reported that they had heard about the disaster in Belgium, and they now believed that if something happens to the pipeline, their buildings would definitely be affected. In Tsemi, residents said that the pipeline runs along a local river for five meters. This river is the main source of water for the village and for two other villages in the region. Residents raised concerns about pipeline leaks and the risk of spill over into the river; as well as the pipeline’s exposure to landslides, sabotage and the threat of an earthquake. In Sakuneti, one villager said: “There are five km of pipeline which are crossing the village land. We are afraid that if the leak happens then the whole village may disappear. We want to have some security that if there is a leak we will be taken care of. ” 5.3 Impact on Tourism, Borjomi region Villagers in Tsemi told the factfinding mission that they were concerned about the effect the project has had, and may have, on water quality. The villagers also raised concerns regarding the potential impact of an oil spill on hayfields and grazing lands; about pipeline construction vehicles crossing the river and causing erosion that would pollute the water; and potential problems if the pipeline goes near villages with health spas and other tourist facilities. Villagers said they wanted assurances from BTC Co that the water supply will be safe. Liana Kejerashvili, a local resident, said: “BTC brought benefits for the government; but local people have nothing! We had such great water here and they brought all these tractors and destroyed it. They have not done anything for us. Their biggest mistake was to cross the Borjomi region! They have destroyed our road, the tourist season has been totally lost, the income source the village had, they destroyed it! The only opportunity we have to earn a living was taken and our water has been ruined since the BTC Co started construction here.”
The water heating system at Tsemi had to be dismantled due to water pollution villagers claim is due to BTC Construction activities.
27