2024-08-17 17:09:00
On August 19, TKE Minister Gnel Sanosyan held a working meeting at the Armavir Marzpetaran regarding the problems related to the irrigation process in the region. The meeting was attended by Armavir Marz Governor Hambardzum Matevosyan, Chairman of the Water Committee of RA TEKN, Karen Sargsyan, heads of water user companies of Armavir Marz, employees of the Marz Governor’s Office.
Minister Gnel Sanosyan presented to the participants of the consultation the priorities and programs aimed at solving the short-term and long-term problems in the field. The minister of TCE particularly emphasized that although the maximum volume of water released from Lake Sevan was increased by 75 million cubic meters in order to mitigate the deficit of irrigation water supply, it is necessary to set a problem to ensure the irrigation process with water intake of less than the specified volume. “We have to do everything in our power not to reach the number of 75 million, I believe that it is possible, it would be good if the weather conditions are favorable. I think that thanks to joint work and efforts, we can solve this problem,” said Gnel Sanosyan, adding that he will discuss the current work and upcoming tasks with the officials of the sector on a weekly basis.
The chairman of the water committee, Karen Sargsyan, informed that necessary calculations have been made for water intake from Lake Sevan for this year less than the amount prescribed by law, and relevant works are being carried out in that direction. Karen Sargsyan also presented to the minister of TCE the works being carried out in the direction of ensuring water intake from Akhuryan and Aparan reservoirs in the volumes intended for water users of Armavir marz.
According to Armavir Marz Governor Hambardzum Matevosyan, the crisis period in terms of providing irrigation in the region has been overcome and now it is a more stable region. During the consultation, the directors of “Ejmiadzin”, “Armavir” and “Shenik” WPPs of Armavir marz presented data related to irrigated land areas and irrigation water demand in their service areas, as well as the planned works in the direction of providing the necessary water quantities to the water-using companies in the conditions of water scarcity. According to the heads of WPPs of the region, the indicator of water usage fee collections has improved compared to the previous year.
The issues related to the development of necessary infrastructures for the purpose of water supply of irrigated lands in Armavir region, in particular the construction of new reservoirs, the modernization and expansion of the water system, the restarting of deep wells, the energy supply of the irrigation system, and the question of gradually switching from surface irrigation to the drip irrigation system were also discussed.
Summarizing the consultation, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Gnel Sanosyan urged the heads of WPPs to conduct explanatory work with the water users who are members of their companies, informing them of the need to review and modernize the traditional methods of land cultivation and especially soil irrigation due to changes in climate conditions in the world and in particular in Armenia. Minister Sanosyan also instructed the officials of the sector to pay more attention to the increase of indicators of water usage fee collections.