ENDLESS PROBLEM OF KHACHEN-MARTAKERT WATER PIPELINE

KarabakhOpen
24-12-2007 12:15:24

For many years now the people of Martakert are trying to draw attention
to the problem of water which they have once a week for two hours. The
solution of the problem has been related to the construction of the
water pipeline Khachen-Martakert.

Every time the government started to work on the pipeline, the people
of Martakert were hopeful they would eventually have water in their
homes.

However, every time mistakes were made, and regulations were broken
in laying out the pipeline, and the pipeline is ready but there is no
water. As soon as they turn the water on, some part of the pipeline
is damaged, and water supply stops.

The government has allocated money for several times, but one drawback
was replaced by another, and there was no water. The Supervisory
department of the NKR government Carlen Petrosyan confessed, who used
to be the governor of the region of Martakert for several years.

According to him, last time 185.5 million drams was provided to
eliminate drawbacks, and 70 percent of the seams were improved, the
builders chose which part to repair. The head of the supervisory
department says the builders complained that the money is not
sufficient to eliminate all the drawbacks. Moreover, part of the
pipeline passed under the ground.

According to Karlen Petrosyan, on January 26, 2007 "the pipeline
was operated on paper" but work was of low quality. No tests were
carried out.

"Builders say they chose the most vulnerable parts of the pipeline
but I do not think their choice was justified because there were no
tests, not even a test of hydrodynamics," Carlen Petrosyan said.

In answer to our question he emphasized that as a governor he had
warned the government about the drawbacks and breaches and made efforts
but could not eliminate all the drawbacks. Carlen Petrosyan said the
ministry of urban planning had to have specialized control.

The prime minister has now instructed Carlen Petrosyan to study the
problem of the pipeline. According to him, all the circumstances
will be found out, how much money was allocated, what was done,
by whom and which projects.

Carlen Petrosyan says the contractor and the stakeholders should
control the process to have water reach consumers as soon as
possible. He also said the government will not allocate more funds
for the elimination of the drawbacks. Repair will be financed by the
construction companies.