Armenian parliament allows additional release of water from Lake Sevan
04.07.2017,
15:52
By a vote of 77 to 3 Armenia’s parliament has approved today in the first reading a set of amendments to the draft law "On Annual and Comprehensive Program of Measures for the Restoration, Conservation, Reproduction and Utilization of the Lake Sevan Ecosystem,’ allowing the government to pump out 100 million cubic meters of irrigation water additionally from the lake in addition to 170 million, already permitted by the law.
YEREVAN, July 4. /ARKA/. By a vote of 77 to 3 Armenia’s parliament has approved today in the first reading a set of amendments to the draft law "On Annual and Comprehensive Program of Measures for the Restoration, Conservation, Reproduction and Utilization of the Lake Sevan Ecosystem,’ allowing the government to pump out 100 million cubic meters of irrigation water additionally from the lake in addition to 170 million, already permitted by the law.
The government argues that the volume of water in the irrigation reservoirs is now by 207 million cubic meters less than in 2016. Arsen Harutyunyan, the chairman of the State Water Committee, said earlier that the additional release of water will save about 1 billion drams on the launch of pumping stations.
He noted that the additional release of water will not affect the ecosystem of the lake since as of June 20, 2017 its level was 18 cm higher when compared to June 20, 2016. He said the additional release may decrease the lake’s level by only 8 cm.
Nature protection minister Artsvik Minasyan told reporters today that the ministry will keep under its control the process of additional water release from the lake. In his words, from the point of view of nature protection, additional water release from Sevan may adversely affect the lake; nevertheless, it is wrong to say in advance about the negative impact.
"We will monitor the entire process and in case of necessity, will take preventive actions," Minasyan added. He also noted that it is necessary to revise the current legislation on Lake Sevan, which was adopted in 2001-2002.
Lake Sevan is the main source of drinking water in the region, and is one of the largest high-mountain lakes in Europe and Asia, located in the heart of the Armenian upland, at an altitude of 1914 meters. By 2030 the level of the lake is to rise to 1,903.5 meters above sea level.-0-
The government argues that the volume of water in the irrigation reservoirs is now by 207 million cubic meters less than in 2016. Arsen Harutyunyan, the chairman of the State Water Committee, said earlier that the additional release of water will save about 1 billion drams on the launch of pumping stations.
He noted that the additional release of water will not affect the ecosystem of the lake since as of June 20, 2017 its level was 18 cm higher when compared to June 20, 2016. He said the additional release may decrease the lake’s level by only 8 cm.
Nature protection minister Artsvik Minasyan told reporters today that the ministry will keep under its control the process of additional water release from the lake. In his words, from the point of view of nature protection, additional water release from Sevan may adversely affect the lake; nevertheless, it is wrong to say in advance about the negative impact.
"We will monitor the entire process and in case of necessity, will take preventive actions," Minasyan added. He also noted that it is necessary to revise the current legislation on Lake Sevan, which was adopted in 2001-2002.
Lake Sevan is the main source of drinking water in the region, and is one of the largest high-mountain lakes in Europe and Asia, located in the heart of the Armenian upland, at an altitude of 1914 meters. By 2030 the level of the lake is to rise to 1,903.5 meters above sea level.-0-
