MINISTRY OF NATURE PROTECTION BASIN MANAGEMENT OFFICE OPENS IN THE AKHURYAN BASIN
ArmRadio.am
30.10.2006 18:03
On October 31, the USAID, with support from its implementing partner,
PA Government Services Inc. (PA), will hold an opening ceremony at the
newly rehabilitated offices of the Akhuryan Basin Management Office
(BMO). The ceremony will be presided over by Deputy Minister of Nature
Protection Hakob Matilyan and USAID Project Management Specialist
Marina Vardanyan.
The Akhuryan BMO is one of five BMOs in Armenia established in 2003
under the Water Resources Management Agency (WRMA) of the Ministry of
Nature Protection. USAID and PA, through the "Program for Institutional
and Regulatory Strengthening of Water Management in Armenia," have
been working closely to assist with development of the Akhuryan,
Sevan-Hrazdan, Ararat, and Southern Basin BMOs. The Akhuryan office
opening marks a major step forward in water resources management for
the country.
As fledgling organizations with an important mandate and diverse
responsibilities, the BMOs have developed and become fully
operational. To assist with BMO development the USAID Program has
provided numerous strategic interventions in the form of training
courses and technical expertise while also providing commodity support
in the form of office rehabilitation, computer and office equipment,
furnishings, technical equipment.
Soon this will be followed by a vehicle for the BMO’s field use. BMOs
are designated to play a critical role in water sector management in
Armenia. They are tasked with developing and implementing water basin
management plans under the National Water Policy and the National
Water Program. They also accept water use permit applications
and record water use permits issued by the WRMA while assuring
water users’ compliance with conditions set forth in the water use
permits. Developing water extraction regimes and ensuring water
resource protection are other BMO responsibilities.
One of the BMO’s new and expanding roles is to serve as a direct link
between the WRMA and the local water users served by the BMO. This
function is nascent but as the BMO grows and develops, community
and water user relations will become a core function of the BMO and
its staff.
USAID looks forward to future BMO office opening ceremonies in the
Southern, Ararat, and Sevan-Hrazdan BMOs.