GEGHAMASAR IN DANGER OF BEING DEPRIVED OF DRINKING WATER
Noyan Tapan
Dec 19 2006
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The 10-km water pipe of the
Geghamasar community (Gegharkunik marz) is being removed without the
village inhabitants’ being warned about it. A 2-km section has already
been removed, Vladimir Abrahamian, a villager, told reporters during
the December 19 meeting. According to the official explanation of the
regional prosecutor’s office, the community has a social payment debt
of 1.7 mln drams (about 4.6 thousand USD), as a result of which the
water pipe was put under arrest, auctioned and sold.
Contrary to the letter of the prosecutor’s office, villagers say that
the water pipe is not old and unfit for use: it was built in 1991, its
operation term is 50 years, while the market value makes 100 thousand
USD at current market prices. V. Abrahamian is convinced that if the
1,500-inhabitant village mainly populated by refugees is deprived of
water, it will become deserted. Now Geghamasar is supplied with water
by a pipe built several decades ago. The locals intend to apply to the
RA president and the National Assembly in connection with this problem.