Gegharkunik Regional Municipality responded to EcoLur's letter regarding the issue of water distribution in Argitchi River. Reminder: EcoLur had sent a letter to RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure and Environment Ministry regarding the Argitchi River issue. RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure redirected the letter to Gegharkunik Regional Municipality.
The letter N 02/4696 by Secretary General Gegharkunik Regional Municipality Sevak Khlghatyan states:
“The study revealed that Argichi SHPP takes as much water as provided for in the water use permit issued by RA Environment Ministry, the rest of the water flows for irrigation through the Argitchi River to Madina, Geghovit, Verin Getashen and Nerkin Getashen communities.
Irrigation water is supplied to the communities of the region by "Gegharkunik" WUC in accordance with the contracts concluded on the basis of applications filed by water users.
The aqueduct of Jrvezh stream, which is on the balance of "Gegharkunik" WUC, was repaired in 2018, and now a normal water supply is carried out through that aqueduct. It was illegally managed by an individual citizen for about three years, who considered the brook as his property (managed it alone).
Currently, the operation of the aqueduct by the citizen has been stopped, a criminal case has been initiated against him.
The problem of irrigation water in the region, including Nerkin Getashen community, will be completely solved by the construction of "Argitchi" reservoir and the capital reconstruction of "Getashen" canal.
I would like to inform you that in July 2020, with the participation of the representatives of Gegharkunik WUC and Gegharkunik Regional Municipality, at the urging of the heads of Geghovit և Nerkin Getashen communities, an arrangement was reached with the administration on regulating water discharge. The valve of the SHPP has been sealed."
EcoLur’s Observation
In regard with “Argichi SHPP takes as much water as provided for in the water use permit issued by RA Environment Ministry, the rest of the water flows for irrigation through the Argitchi River to Madina, Geghovit, Verin Getashen and Nerkin Getashen communities” mentioned in the response letter, it should be mentioned that according to response letter of RA Environment Ministry addressed to EcoLur, on July 3, 2020, Environment Ministry carried out an investigation, which revealed that at the time of the studies, about 200-250 l/s of water was flowing in the Argichi River in Argichi SHPP area, and the drainage from the SHPP to the Argichi River was 700-800 l/s water. 200-250 l/s water flow is 4-5 times lower.
July 14, 2020 at 18:27