New 15 billion dram worth water reservoir to be built in Nagorno-Karabakh

YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. A new water reservoir and a pipeline will be built in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to connect the water supply system of Artsakh capital Stepanakert with the Patarak River, Artsakh president Arayik Harutyunyan announced on Monday in a Facebook post.

Citing experts, Harutyunyan said that the pipeline will be commissioned within a year, and from next year the residents of Stepanakert will not have problems with drinking water.

According to Artsakh president, the construction of the Patarak reservoir, estimated to cost 15 billion drams will start in the near future.

He said the reservoir will allow uninterrupted supply of high-quality drinking water not only to the capital, but also to a dozen villages in Askeran district. Part of the water will be used to irrigate more than 2,500 hectares of agricultural land.

Authorities in Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh declared a state of emergency last week due to a severe shortage of drinking water caused by a protracted drought.

According to Artsakh Emergency Situations Service, about 30% of the city’s population is without water. The problem is worsened because of some 15 thousand internally displaced persons, who found shelter in Stepanakert after last year’ 44-day war.

Stepanakert receives water from the Meghraget, Hraget and Vararak rivers. The water flow has almost halved in the first two, while the third has completely dried up.

Stepanakert Mayor David Sargsyan ordered to stop using water at all car washing stations and in recreation areas until the restoration of water supplies. ($1 - 492.52 drams) -0-