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    Categories: 2023

Authorities could authorize additional drainage of Sevan amid low water levels in reservoirs, warns official

 14:58, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. Water levels in Armenia’s reservoirs, especially large ones, are low and the authorities could authorize additional drainage from Lake Sevan for irrigation purposes, a senior government official said Tuesday.

Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Vache Terteryan told lawmakers at a joint committee hearing on the 2022 budget report that in 2022 the government authorized the drainage of 170 million cubic meters of water from Lake Sevan, but only 165,1 was used.

“This year we have rather little water accumulated in especially large reservoirs, especially in Akhuryan, Azat and Aparan. And it’s going to be a difficult year. We must do everything to mitigate the [consequences] of low water levels, but at a given time, together with the parliament we will be forced to discuss draining additional volume of water from Sevan,” Terteryan said.

Terteryan said authorities will do everything to try to avoid additional drainage, but a realistic assessment of the situation shows that it will be necessary.

For comparison, Terteryan noted that in 2021 the water level in reservoirs was 20-30% more than this year.

Emil Lazarian: “I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS