EcoLur
Garni residents have addressed an open letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, which says:
“On 18.03.2015 the Nature Protection Ministry issued a positive opinion to the EIA of Qaghtsrashen gravity irrigation system, which will be implemented with the loaning funds granted by the World Bank through “Water Industry PIU” of State Committee on Water Industry of Agriculture Ministry and “Hayhydroenerganakhagits” CJSC.
Garni population is extremely concerned with the implementation of this project. Qaghtsrashen project will help to irrigate 12 communities in Ararat Region at the expense of the communities in Garni Gorge, Khosrov State Reserve and communities getting water from the Azat River and Azar reservoir, as all of them will be deprived of water.
Under the project, around 900 liter water per second will flow to the communities in Ararat Region through a pipeline of 37,685 meter long 1 km below the junction of Azat and Goght rivers. It mentions the water intake will be carried out in the irrigation season, from April to October, leaving 0.85 cum/s water in the river as environmental flow.
The project is impermissible and inadmissible for us. If this water is taken, all our sowing areas and a huge area attracting tourists will be on the verge of destruction.
In the middle reach of the Azat River, where the head section will be located, sufficient amount water is not available to leave the planned 0.85 cum/s environmental flow in the river. Almost no water is left in the river after taking irrigation water. In July-September months around 650-700 l/s is taken for irrigation purposes, and if the environmental flow is left, the land areas in Garni can’t be irrigated.
Garni village with a population of 3800 drastically need drinking and irrigation water, as its 700-800 ha land area has become a desert because of the lack of irrigation water. The project says the factually irrigated land areas in 12 communities in Ararat Region account for 1232 ha, and the water in the Azat River will help to additionally irrigate only 387 ha area. Why shall huge amounts of money be spent for the additional irrigation of 387 ha, when around thousand ha of land area in Garni is left without water?
The Azat River borders the Khosrov State Reserve. If Qaghtsrashen project is implemented, and the river gets dry in hot summer, it will have its adversary effect not only on Garni Gorge, but also on Khosrov reserve ecosystem.
Garni gorge is located in semi-desert and desert landscape zones, while drying Azat River will increase desertification processes in Garni Gorge, which is already observed because of the lack of water.
The project will have adversary effect on the flora and fauna of the Azat River basin.
250 animal species inhabit in this area, including red-listed ones.
Garni Gorge is one of the most favourite tourist attractions. The state authorities are speaking about the great perspectives of tourism development in our country, nevertheless, their improvident steps deprive of the opportunity to make these perspectives come true. Particularly in this case, the implementation of Qaghtsrashen project undermines the existence of Garni Gorge nature, which attracts tourists: tree felling is planned both in the gorge and near Azat reservoir.
Garni population opposed to the implementation of this anti-environmental project and is willing to fight to save the nature in Garni from massacre at any price.
We are demanding to stop the implementation of this disastrous project. Currently, the residents of Garni and adjacent communities are organizing signature collection as a sign of protest (over 2000 signatures have already been collected) and they are ready to fight to save Garni nature from imminent disaster.”
March 18, 2015 at 15:30