The construction contractor on an irrigational canal project financed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation has screwed up big time.

The company has gone ahead and installed smaller semi-pipes than called for at the Armavir site, resulting in flooding of roads between the villages of Hovtametch and Tziatzan. Local residents have been waiting for the project to be completed for over a year already.

The incorrect pipe fitting are being changed; once again.

MCC-Armenia CEO Ara Hovsepyan, who misses no opportunity to declare that work is carried out in a very transparent manner, is once again trying to cover up the construction blunders.

While it is true that Nane Ajemyan, who heads the information desk at the MCC's office in Armenia, confessed that the mistake was made by the company responsible for drawing up the plans for the project, Ara Hovsepyan refused to mention the company's name when I spoke to him.

The MCC also avoided revealing the extra cost involved in correcting the company's miscalculation, arguing that the amount still wasn't clear.

As to why Ara Hovsepyan is keen on concealing the mistakes of Yerevanshin, the company at fault, is also unclear.

Hetq first covered the problems cropping at the work site last year. Back then, Yerevanshin had used low-quality rubber pipe fittings and the defect was spotted by the Americans who ordered that they be replaced.

Ara Hovsepyan was also reluctant to talk to Hetq about the foul ups back then.

Hovtametch Village Mayor Armen Sargsyan didn't know the name of the company carrying out the planning and advised us to get in touch with the MCC.

"I can't tell you the company involved. I don't even know when the project is supposed to be completed. It should have been finished a long time ago. But the pipes are inadequate. The Ministry for Territorial Administration has ordered that they be replaced," said the mayor.

Seyran Sargsyan, who heads the Khoy Water Consumers' Association, said that residents have taken it upon themselves to dig irrigation ditches on top to get the water they need on a temporary basis.

He added that it was a peak season for irrigation and that Yerevanshin has agreed to start the work by June 20.

Khachik Gevoryan, mayor of neighboring Tziatzan village, says that 266 meters of new pipe have already been replaced on his side of the project.

I tried to contact Yerevanshin by telephone for their side of the story but no one picked up. I've been calling for the past few days.

Meanwhile, local residents are not at all certain that this will be the last of the problems plaguing the MCC project.