During his lengthy “100 Facts” press interview in Vanadzor today, during which Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ticked off 100 points that he claimed were evident successes of his administration, Pashinyan also touched on environmental matters.

Pashinyan noted that in 2019, inspections by relevant government authorities of metal mines, forestry and specially protected areas, small hydropower plants and other areas recorded 882 violations.

These violations, according to Pashinyan, resulted in 1.661 billion drams (US$3.5mln) in damage to the state. Based on these violations, 38.8 million drams in administrative fines were issued.

Pashinyan claimed that in June and July of 2019 alone, the users of the subsoil were issued 204 written warnings, resulting in 157 million drams paid to the state budget, which will be kept as reclamation funds.

He pointed to changes in the Criminal Code providing for stricter penalties for the destruction of forests and plant diversity. Fines for such offences can now reach 4 million drams, as well as imprisonment of 3-8 years.

Pashinyan also referred to a pilot forest protection program launched in the Stepanavan Forestry in Lori Province. Ten sensors have been installed that can send monitor the felling of trees in a 2-10 km radius and dispatch the information to relevant authorities.

He noted that as of September 2011, the water discharge from Lake Sevan for irrigation was less than 53 million cubic meters, and that 17 million cubic meters of water were transported to the lake via the Arpa-Sevan water pipeline.

"As of today, when compared to last year, Lake Sevan has risen by 4 cm," Pashinyan said, adding that the lake’s water reserves are up by 102 million cubic meters.