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State Committee Allegation in Misinformation Ungrounded

We, “EcoLur” and 'Territorial Development and Studies Center' NGOs think that allegation in misinformation made by State Committee on Water Industry addressed to Gegharkounik-based 'Territorial Development and Studies Center' NGO has no words. Reminder: in its statement on 12 July, the State Committee particularly noted, “Recently some NGOs deal with dissemination of obvious misinformation…

“…The arguments brought by 'Territorial Development and Studies Center' NGO President Satenik Badeyan don't comply with the reality….” And then, “…Three water users' companies operate in Gegharkounik region, 'Martuni', 'Gavar' and 'Vardenis', the number of factually irrigated land areas in their service area makes up 6400 ha...', “…Around 25% of the regional population deals with irrigated agriculture.'

For our part, we would like to mention that Gegharkounik region has (under different data) from 80,000 to 86,000 ha of plough lands, and in this regard, 4600 ha mentioned in the statement of the State Committee, make up only 5-7% of the total area. We would also like to draw State Committee attention to another figure that 25% of regional residents are supplied with irrigation water. This figure could be higher, as it includes the population of three large towns – Martouni, Gavar and Vardenis. Town people deal with agriculture for more less than rural people, but rural people should cultivate land areas left beyond control of State Committee, 75,000 – 79,000 ha, hoping for weather, snow and rain. If snow and rain lack, there is no harvest. People take loans and get nothing due to water absence.

Water has turned into something valuable, more valuable than life. Beneath our eyes, two Geghamavan villagers slipped down on ropes to Sevan-Hrazdan canal, took water with buckets and poured it into narrow pipe, which runs to their land areas. The speed of water running through the canal is very high, canal walls are smooth, while its depth is 7-10 meters. If you fall into canal, it’s almost impossible to survive. Old villagers assured us that since opening of the canal more than 50 people drowned there.

When we asked whether these farmers are not afraid of the rope break off, they said, “What can we do, we should water, we need water.” It’s hard to say how many times you need to slip down to the canal, evidently as many times as many buckets they need to water their land areas.

Here what we talk about, we talk about problems. These problems can’t be kept silent about. We think that governmental bodies should perceive public statements as alarm signals and should take all measures to solve these problems, so as not only companies, but also people are pleased with this situation.

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