THE APPEAL OF NGOS REGARDING THE PLANNED CONSTRUCTION IN DIGHOMI FOREST-PARK

To Mr. Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi

To Mr. Giorgi Tkemaladze, Chairperson of Tbilisi Sakrebulo

We address you regarding the construction planned in Dighomi Forest Park. The urban status of the Dighomi Forest Park has been changed several times by different governments, the area of ​​the green cover has been fragmented and disposed, ugly buildings have emerged, the sewage from the buildings directly flows into the soil of the forest-park and damages the environment, trees have been cut, and the ecological integrity of the natural landscape has been violated.

Local residents have repeatedly applied to the Tbilisi municipality for the purpose of protecting the territory of the forest-park from constructions. For more than 15 years the population has struggled to maintain the unique natural landscape.

In May 2018 an application was submitted on issuance of a construction permit for building a concert and exhibition center on the territory of the Dighomi Forest Park in the area of the KIA Motors premises. With the view to meeting the request, in June the terms for the use of the land plot were determined and the project agreement was planned.

The concerned population once again applied to the City Hall and Sakrebulo. More than 500 signatories requested to prohibit a prospective construction of a new multifunction complex by the construction company "Anagi" in the Dighomi Forest Park area.

The local population believes that the new complex is functionally incompatible with the purpose of the forest-park, as the double load caused by the complex will heavily affect the park's ecosystem and the public interest of the population to benefit from this unique environmental resource. We support the local population of Dighomi, for whom the forest park is an important space for relaxation, recovery and social and civic activities.

We would like to remind the promise given by the Tbilisi authorities that they would deliver effective and concrete decisions to resolve the city's complicated environmental problems and amend the destructive urban policy established for many years, which has engulfed a number of public spaces, squares and parks.

In the event of granting the requested construction permit, it will be difficult to stop further construction activities in the area and the urban policy of the city will remain unchanged.

Depending on all the above, we urge you to:

- Refuse to agree a new construction project and a construction permit on the territory of Dighomi Forest Park;

- In accordance with the statement of the Mayor, the buildings located in the premises of KIA Motors be granted the status of unmatched buildings;

- Within the framework of the new General Plan, the status of landscape-recreation zone to be applied to the entire area of ​​Dighomi Forest Park (including Agmashenebeli Alley, Akhmeteli, Ljubljana and Chokhonelidze streets, and partially a planted stretch along the Aghmashenebeli Alley) in order to avoid further constructions in the future;

- In the next General Plan, maintain the status of the special planting area and restriction zone granted to this territory in 2006;

- Hold public meetings with interested groups for discussion of the action plan for the protection and maintenance of the Dighomi Forest Park.

Signatory Organizations:

Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC)

Caucasian House

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association

Green alternatives

Human Rights Center

Open Society Foundation

Initiative for public space

CENN

Safe Space