'S.O.S Garni' Initiative
The State Committee on Water Industry of the Ministry for Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources has issued contradicting substantiations on the extent of fullness of Azat Reservoir: one of the substantiations refer to Qaghtsrashen gravity irrigation system, while the other refers to additional water outlet of 100 million m3 out of Lake Sevan. 'S.O.S Garni' Initiative has addressed a letter to State Committee on Water Industry, which says, if Qaghtsrashen project takes water from the Azat River, which will result in less fullness of Azat Reservoir and won't ensure the irrigation of 7100 ha land areas of Yerevan adjacent areas. However, the water in Azat reservoir is already not sufficient for Azat Reservoir. In its reply letter, State Committee on Water Industry makes sure that Azat Reservoir has additional water, which will be directed to Qaghtsrashen gravity irrigation system. '...In fact, Azat reservoir was maximum full in 2016, while water outlet was launched on 12 May and continued till the end of June. In the given period, the water outlet was observed up to 10-14 m3/s and the majority of this water amount has flown outside the borders of Armenia. With the construction of Qaghtsrashen gravity irrigation system, it will be possible to prevent these flows, as physically the same water amounts will be directed to the service of Qaghtsrashen gravity irrigation system,' the reply letter of the State Committee on Water Industry says. At the same time, Arsen Harutyunyan – Chairman of the State Committee on Water Industry, in his interview with journalists substantiated the decision on letting out additional 100 million m3 out of Lake Sevan and said, '...In Azat reservoir exactly we experience problems of around 17 millions. Climate has drastically changed as compared with the last year and we received information from the Ministry of Emergency States that it is going to deteriorate by 20%.' If the concerns of the Chairman of the State Committee on Water Industry are true and we do experience water deficit, and we will need additional water from Lake Sevan, then the Committee shall definitely refuse from Qaghtsrashen gravity irrigation system. If Azat Reservoir has additional water, as the letter of the Committee says, then the substantiations of the Committee in the bill on additional water intake from Lake Sevan doesn’t comply with the reality. The Armenian Government shall annul the substantiations developed by the State Committee on Water Industry and call back the bill submitted to the National Assembly of Armenia. 'S.O.S Garni' Initiative is joining 'S.O.S Sevan' Initiative.
June 29, 2017 at 16:24