EcoLur's Proposals Made to Government in Regard with Recovery of Water Resources of Ararat Valley and Lake Sevan Preservation and Government Replies

EcoLur

Taking into consideration the water problem in Armenia, in March-July 2014 “EcoLur” Informational NGO conducted a public hearing in a number of communities in Ararat Valley and a number of communities in Gegharkounik Region, where they listened to the residents’ complaints and proposals about the water problem and submitted a package of proposals for the solution to the problem to Armenian PM, Chairman of National Water Council Hovik Abrahamyan.

The letter says, “Dear Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan

Ararat Valley groundwater

· Urgent measures must be taken and budgetary and extra-budgetary funds must be directed not at imitation processes, which allegedly pursue economic interest, but the recovery of water distribution balance of Ararat Valley underground making it closer to natural,

· To conduct supervisory inspections among water users in Ararat Valley, to detect violators and to stop the activities of water users using deep wells,

· To recognize the actions of the authorities illegal over uncontrollable and atrocious water use and to punish those guilty,

· To present short-term and long-term programs to reduce water loss in energetic and irrigation systems,

· To recognize the groundwater resources of Ararat Valley as strategic water resources of the country,

· To refuse from running temporary-nature policy on Ararat Valley groundwater,

· To shift the solution of the problem to the level of law, which will enable preserving Ararat valley groundwater and ensure sustainable water usage,

· To involve science and public representatives in decision-making process on Ararat Valley groundwater, local self-government bodies, local population and to establish joint working groups so as to decide certain measures, procedure, timetable and volume of measures, which are needed for the recovery of Ararat Valley water balance.

Lake Sevan

· All the laws, initiatives, programs, governmental resolutions, legal acts on Lake Sevan must be observed only in the frames of RA law “On Lake Sevan”. Reminder: The preamble to the law says, “” This Law establishes the legal and economic basis of the state policy on natural development, recovery, reproduction of natural resources (further - reproduction), to preserving and use of the Lake Sevan as ecosystems of strategic purpose of the Republic of Armenia having nature protection, economic, social, scientific, historical and cultural, esthetic, health, climatic, recreational and spiritual value.”

· Though RA Law “On state complex program on the recovery, preservation, reproduction and natural development and usage of Lake Sevan ecosystem” is presented as an individual law, but it’s an integral part of RA Law “On Lake Sevan”, Chapter 3 – Articles 11-14. Thus, Article 12(3) of RA Law “On Lake Sevan” says, “The draft complex program is submitted by the Armenian Government for the discussion of the National Assembly…The National Assembly approved the complex program with the adoption of the corresponding law. Therefore, neither the government, nor the National Assembly is entitled to amend the law in its part and to observe this part separately from the provisions of RA Law “On Lake Sevan”.”

· Neither the Armenian Government nor the National Assembly is entitled to ignore the opinion of Expert Committee on Lake Sevan, the authorities of which are prescribed by Article 19 of RA Law “On Lake Sevan”. The committee has set a special provision - not to allow a negative balance of the lake level in case of water outlets over 170 million cum. Besides, the committee makes references to scientific researches, where the size of Lake Sevan water entries and yields were calculated, which underlies the law.

· To immediately conduct financial and technical examination on the water loss in Sevan-Hrazdan water loss and rehabilitation works in regard with cost efficiency,

· During one month to monitor the daily water volume in Sevan-Hrazdan canal with the participation of public representatives and to publish the date on the official website of Nature Protection Ministry,

· To recognize all the littoral communities of Lake Sevan as project affected zone in case all projects relating with Lake Sevan. To hold public hearings in the communities in case of each project, including the governmental proposal to increase water outlets from Lake Sevan, at least in four towns – Sevan, Martuni, Gavar and Vardenis making aware all 41 littoral communities located on the shore of Lake Sevan.

· To recognize Water Resources Management Agency of Nature Protection Ministry and “Sevan” National Park liable for the enforcement of the provisions of RA Law “On Lake Sevan” in compliance with Article 16 of RA Law “On Lake Sevan” and to determine the punishment of the officials irregardless of their office held, if they ignore or don’t perform their obligations to save Lake Sevan.