Argichi SHPP operates in Martuni enlarged community, Gegharkunik Region, thus affecting Verin Getashen, Nerkin Getashen and Madina settlements. The water intake is carried out in the administrative territory of Madina Community, the water discharge is carried out in the administrative territory of Verin Getashen Community, where the power plant is built. The length of the pipe of "Argitchi" SHPP is 9527 m.
During the meeting in the village of Verin Getashen, the locals raised the issues related to the SHPP.
"100 hectares of land have completely dried up because the climate has changed, it is a dry year with no snow and no rain. On the other hand, we have not seen anything good in the operation of Argitchi SHPP ... The whole village has suffered from lack of water, hectares of land have been left without water because of the HPP.... Under the contract, the HPP shall give water only starting from 15 July. How can we water the greenery in that weather, when it leaves irrigation water only on July 15...? The whole village was deceived. I have 12 hectares near my house, where I was calculating potatoes that land remained non-cultivated for 10 years, but I would get one ton of potatoes every year. Calculate how much damage I have incurred ...," Verin Getashen residents said.
According to them, the unavailability of irrigation water has set preconditions for emigration in the village. "After the construction of the SHPP, 200-300 doors were closed. The villagers are leaving, they are emigrating ...," the residents said. They responded to the question what demand or proposal they have as a solution to all those problems. "Give us back our irrigation water ... If there is a possibility, they shall build a reservoir so as to have sufficient water both for them and for us."
The administrative representative of Verin Getashen settlement Tigran Muradyan mentioned that they tried to get financial support from the company operating "Argitchi" SHPP, but in vain. "Many times we have tried to discuss in writing with the HPP administration, but to no avail. We suggested that they shall make a certain financial donation to the settlement. There was even a proposal to renovate the chapel in the immediate vicinity of the SHPP, but they did not do so. The HPP uses water resources and should invest in the affected community," he said.
Verin Getashen and Nerqin Getashen residents are raising problems with small hydropower plants every year during the irrigation season. Many times, they have organized protests demanding the solution to the water problem. In 2020 “EcoLur” and "Martuni Women's Community Council" NGO, applied to Environment Ministry regarding the problem of the community residents, and received the following answer: “…In regard with the problems arising for the irrigation of the community lands as a result of the water intake from the Argitchi River by "Argitchi" SHPP owned by "Hydrocorporation" CJSC, during the irrigation season, we would like to inform that:
In 2020, Environment Ministry of 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. The water pumping station near the SHPP was not working, and "Argichi" SHPP, according to WP № 000031, does not draw water from the Argichi River in August.
The viewpoint submitted by you that the process of issuing the water use permit to "Argichi" SHPP was carried out with violations and public awareness was not ensured, I would like to inform that according to the regulation of public notice and publicity of the developed documents by Water Resources Management and Protection Body Public laid down in the governmental regulation № 217-Ն dated on 7 March 2003, the water use permit of Argitchi SHPP in question was submitted by the authorized body to the public notice at the design stage, nevertheless, no remarks and suggestions were submitted in its regard within the set period.
We would like to inform you that the water use permit issued to Argitchi SHPP is legal. The process of issuing the water use permit was carried out by providing all the essential factual and legal bases in accordance with the requirements of RA Government Decision N218-N dated on March 7, 2003.”
EcoLur’s Observations
RA Environment Minister’s response letter says, “...at the time of the studies, about 200-250 l/s of water was flowing in the Argitchi River in Argitchi SHPP area, and the drainage from the SHPP to the Argitchi River was 700-800 l/s water.” In this regard, we would like to mention:
200-250 l/s water flow is 4-5 times smaller than 1000 l/s environmental flow laid down in the water use permit N 000031 provided to "Argitchi" SHPP in 2014-2017, which, logically, could have increased after the adoption of resolution № 57-N of RA Government dated on January 25, 2018. According to this resolution, the environmental flow of the rivers should have increased, adding 33% to the existing flow as a "safety factor" to ensure the hydromorphological, oxygen and thermal conditions of the river, which ensure the survival and reproduction of aquatic organisms. As in the calculation of the environmental flow, the seasonal features and river supply should have been considered.
If the drainage from the SHPP to the Argitchi River constituted 700-800 l/s of water, the environmental flow of the Argitchi River was not preserved.
The participants of the meeting concluded that this issue has not been resolved by other authorized bodies of the Ministry. Therefore, there is a need for greater intervention by the community and the residents, which can be served through the inclusion of socio-environmental policy in the community development program. According to Inga Zarafyan, President of EcoLur Informational NGO, this will allow the community to become a participant in the decision-making process.
March 10, 2022 at 16:37