Multi problem...

Unfortunately, nothing unites people more than common problems, the solution of which sometimes requires great effort. I have been convinced more than once that only a wide public response helps to find ways to resolve important issues. These days I am in the village of Multa in the Altai Republic. In the very village from which almost all routes to the Multinsky Lakes and remote corners of the Katunsky Nature Reserve begin. I didn’t get here by accident, but came as part of an expert group of ecologists and journalists. For what? Everything is very simple, they are going to build a hydroelectric power station very close to the village in the near future. This construction will lead to disastrous consequences, both environmentalists and local residents understand this.



We are now collecting independent data on this topic, conducting conversations with the population and meeting with initiative groups. We will stay here for a couple more days and upon arrival I will compose several posts with personal thoughts. But even so far, at first glance, the situation seems very, very interesting to me. I would even say very dark... In fact, local residents are fed rumors and kept in the dark. They do not provide actual projects and data on hydroelectric power stations, but contractors are already carrying out some work and measurements on the ground. If we talk about the expected consequences, the construction of a hydroelectric power station will not only disrupt the ecosystem of these places, but will once and for all change the traditional life of local residents, which is based on traditional use of natural resources. People living in Multa and the surrounding area simply will have nothing to do; they will have to change their way of life or move to another place. This is a complete disaster for the villagers. An Old Believer settlement and what does it mean to leave? This means losing like-minded people, losing the connection between ancestors and traditions... Multa, like all the villages of the Uimon Valley, is a unique place in Altai. Over the centuries, people have come here, persecuted by the authorities, condemned by society; in these parts they found refuge, adjusted their lives and have already raised more than one generation. These are the people who, through their existence, have created an incredible ethnic flavor here. The construction of this unnecessary hydroelectric power station can change everything here...

As usual, I promised to write a little, but again I overdid it... Well, this is for the best, it turned out to be a good introduction to the next posts about the Multinskaya HPP.

A wonderful museum of folk crafts in the village. Multa.

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