Eagle Hills project will expand green spaces, not reduce them, PM

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze assured Parliament that the Eagle Hills development project will not reduce the area of green spaces in Tbilisi, but will instead increase greenery near the Krtsanisi Forest Park. He made the remarks during an interpellation hearing on Wednesday, addressing concerns raised by opponents of the project.

Kobakhidze criticized what he described as speculative claims suggesting that Tbilisi could “lose its lungs” due to the development. He stressed that, on the contrary, the project will expand green spaces both in Krtsanisi and in Gonio, an area “currently lacking significant vegetation.”

“Not only will the green area not decrease, it will grow. In Krtsanisi Forest Park, which had very few visitors due to decades of neglect since the 1990s, rehabilitation is long overdue. The Tbilisi City Hall had estimated the cost of restoration at 158 million GEL from the state budget. Under this project, Eagle Hills will cover these costs through the investment agreement. Existing areas will be rehabilitated and new green spaces created. This will make the park fully accessible and enjoyable for all residents of Tbilisi,” Kobakhidze said.

The Prime Minister also noted that the National Environmental Agency and other relevant authorities will conduct a strategic environmental assessment of the project. 

“State interests in environmental protection will be fully ensured,” Kobakhidze concluded, emphasizing that the project’s ecological impact has been carefully considered.