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Lake Controversy: Sevan water drainage bill adopted after government concessions
http://armenianow.com/society/environment/54000/government_armenia_sevan_lake_concessions
ENVIRONMENT | 29.04.14 | 13:17
Lake Debate: Amendment to law on Sevan draws environmentalists' concern
Armenian lawmakers on Tuesday voted 96 to 15, with 4 abstentions, to
adopt a controversial bill that will allow additional water drainage
from Lake Sevan.
The government says the measure will help rural economies in the
Ararat valley reeling under dry weather conditions in summertime.
The environmentalists, however, have protested the legislation, saying
that it affects the level of the lake, while benefiting only
`oligarchs' owning fisheries in the valley.
The Prosperous Armenia Party, which has the second largest faction in
the National Assembly, declared before the ballot that it would join
the majority Republican Party of Armenia in voting in favor of the
bill after the Armenian government had announced certain concessions.
In particular, the key-note speaker on the draft legislation, chairman
of the State Water Resources Committee of the Ministry of Territorial
Administration Andranik Andreasyan reportedly said that the term of
the water drainage stipulated in the law had been reduced from five
years to one. He said the proposal was the result of discussions held
the previous day and considered the concerns voiced by civil society
representatives.
Instructions on that account had been given by the head of the
government, acting Parliament Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov said.
Representatives of the opposition Dashnaktsutyun, Heritage and
Armenian National Congress factions voted against the bill.
From: Baghdasarian
http://armenianow.com/society/environment/54000/government_armenia_sevan_lake_concessions
ENVIRONMENT | 29.04.14 | 13:17
Lake Debate: Amendment to law on Sevan draws environmentalists' concern
Armenian lawmakers on Tuesday voted 96 to 15, with 4 abstentions, to
adopt a controversial bill that will allow additional water drainage
from Lake Sevan.
The government says the measure will help rural economies in the
Ararat valley reeling under dry weather conditions in summertime.
The environmentalists, however, have protested the legislation, saying
that it affects the level of the lake, while benefiting only
`oligarchs' owning fisheries in the valley.
The Prosperous Armenia Party, which has the second largest faction in
the National Assembly, declared before the ballot that it would join
the majority Republican Party of Armenia in voting in favor of the
bill after the Armenian government had announced certain concessions.
In particular, the key-note speaker on the draft legislation, chairman
of the State Water Resources Committee of the Ministry of Territorial
Administration Andranik Andreasyan reportedly said that the term of
the water drainage stipulated in the law had been reduced from five
years to one. He said the proposal was the result of discussions held
the previous day and considered the concerns voiced by civil society
representatives.
Instructions on that account had been given by the head of the
government, acting Parliament Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov said.
Representatives of the opposition Dashnaktsutyun, Heritage and
Armenian National Congress factions voted against the bill.
From: Baghdasarian