PanArmenian Environmental Front
It’s commonly known that the water let out from Lake Sevan is used to produce electricity in Sevan-Hrazdan cascade. “Sevan-Hrazdan Cascade” CJSC with its seven HPPs was transferred into the ownership of “International Energetic Corporation” CJSC on 17 July 2003, who published an information booklet in English and Russian in 2005. The first page of this booklet literally says, “…at least 350-440 million cum water will be annually let out for irrigation and energetic purposes without causing any harm to Lake Sevan…”
These lines evidently show while transferring the cascade to the Russian party in 2003, it was guaranteed to let out such volumes of water from Lake Sevan, otherwise these figures wouldn’t appear in the official booklet of International Energetic Corporation.
Taking into consideration the fact that less water is transferred through Arpa-Sevan tunnel to Lake Sevan in recent years than it used to flow in 2002-2010, while Vorotan-Arpa tunnel hasn’t been exploited so far, it becomes clear why the increase in the lake level stopped after 2010.
The public has serious concerns, which will be grounded, if the following measures are taken:
1. To immediately operate an automatic system for daily monitoring to control the volumes of water let out from Lake Sevan and flowing through Vorotan-Arpa-Sevan tunnel, so as each Armenian citizen could follow this process.
2. To present clear and precise explanations to public, why Vorotan-Arpa tunnel is not operated at all, and why the rehabilitation works of Arpa-Sevan tunnel are so prolonged and when will they finish.
3. To display daily information on the official websites of MES Hydromet Service and Nature Protection Ministry about the volumes of water flowing into and out of Lake Sevan, as well as to provide information about the fullness of the main reservoirs in Armenia.
February 24, 2015 at 12:30