HARD TALK
17 Jul 2017

Sevan is a “water tank”, which can be turned into money

"The last three PMs in the first year of their rule allowed the water release from Sevan."

 

Environmentalist Seyran Minasyan highlights three major problems in the ecology of Armenia: mining, ruthless use of groundwater resources of the Ararat valley and the water level of Sevan Lake.

 “Waters in Armenia are quite sufficient for irrigation, and all these 120-130 thousand hectares and the whole Ararat valley can be irrigated without tension. Even according to the State Water Committee, 40-50% of irrigation water is lost before reaching the valley, another 50% of water is lost in the valley. If it is possible to minimize water loss, there will be no need for additional water releases from Sevan,” Seyran Minasyan says.

According to Seyran Minasyan, the last three prime ministers in the first year of their rule allowed the release of water from Sevan. He also qualifies the figures and justifications presented to the National Council as "manipulation".

 “There is no national or state strategy regarding Lake Sevan. Sevan is considered a ready-made “water tank”, where you can take water and turn it into money at any time.”