EcoLur
The Chairman of State Committee on Water Industry Vahe Hakobyan replied to EcoLur’s letter in regard with the emergency in Jrarat Village because of water outlets from Lake Sevan. EcoLur’s letter said, “Under the Ministry for Emergency States, on 27 September the water outlets from Lake Sevan were carried out at a rate of 6 cum/sec starting from 18:00 and 8 cum/sec starting from 15:00. As a result, houses in Jrarat Village, Kotayk Region, and Ddmashen, Gegharkounik Region, were flooded.
The press published numerous reports from the scene, which showed the victims and damage caused to harvest.
Reminder: in 2014 the government determined the water outlets from Lake Sevan to be up to 270 million cum to be implemented by 1 September. The government reasoned the increase in the water outlets by the lack of water in Ararat basin and farmers’ need in irrigation water.
We would like to ask you to inform us what are the grounds and which governmental resolutions served as ground and what is the purpose of water outlets from Lake Sevan on 27 September? We would like also to advise us who bears responsibility for the damage caused to farmers and villagers by the water outlets from Lake Sevan on 27 September.”
Below is the reply of the State Committee on Water Industry, which we present without any comments:
“In reply to your letter dated on 30 September 2014, I would like to inform you that according to governmental resolution N857 dated on 14 August 2014 (which expires on 31 December 2014), the maximum amount of water outlet from Lake Sevan for irrigation purposes has been set 270 million cum. Till 1 September 269.014 million cum water was taken from Lake Sevan for irrigation within the amount set by the resolution.
Taking into consideration the urgent need for water by water users in the area of Shamiram canal, the statutory amount of water was let out of Lake Sevan through Hrazdan riverbed, as Geghamavan – Hrazdan energetic system was in rehabilitation process. According to the observation of “State Service of Hydrometerology and Monitoring” SNCO of the Ministry for Emergency States, the average flow of Hrazdan river from 27 to 30 September accounted for 109,000, 188,000 and 120,000 cum, respectively. The total water intake for the mentioned days made up around 620,000 cum.
At the same time I would like to inform you that the residents of littoral areas of Hrazdan river bank had been warned about water outlets to avoid any accidents. What about flooding of several houses in Jrarat Village, it should be mentioned that the flooding had been caused not by additional water outlets, but because of the fact that several buildings and houses had been construction in the alienation zone of the river and the water invades into this area incase of water level increase.
Regards
V. Hakobyan.”
October 23, 2014 at 13:31