GARNI RESIDENTS ADDRESSED OPEN LETTER TO ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN
15:30 March 18, 2015
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.”