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MINISTRY OF NATURE PROTECTION CONSERVES AND CLOSES 107 ILLEGALLY OPERATING ARTESIAN WELLS IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, October 27. / ARKA /. Armenia's ministry of nature protection
has conserved and closed a total of 107 illegally operating artesian
wells, saving 11,333 liters of water per second, up from 243 litters
of water per second saved in 2013, according to deputy minister of
nature protection Khachik Hakobyan.
Speaking at a news conference the deputy minister said on July 16
the minister ordered to set up a special working group to monitor
over 200 artesian wells.
He said 63 of the closed or conserved artesian wells were run by
fish farms, 8 by the Armenian Water and Sewerage Company and 36 by
Yerevan Jur, a French company operating Yerevan's drinking and waste
water systems.
The illegal water users were fined a total of 6.4 million drams,
said the deputy minister adding also that the ministry has started
a large-scale inspection of Armenian Water and Sewerage Company and
Yerevan Jur. The deputy minister also recalled a string of legislative
changes enforced this year to improve the monitoring and control of
artesian wells.
He said the ministry is going to launch a pilot program designed for
continuous monitoring at water intake points.
"If the program is successful, we will extend it both to fish farms,
communities and water consuming companies," he said.
The Armenian government has allocated 71 million drams for the
management of artesian basin in 2014 and 2015. The deputy minister
said 'until September 2015 we will have a complete concept of a plan
how to effectively manage these resources."
According to government figures, about 50% of underground water
resources are concentrated in the Ararat artesian basin. Over the past
decades numerous deep wells were dug there, many of which illegally.
In 2013 July the government began charging for use of artesian water
- 15 drams for a cubic meter of deep water and 5 drams of surface
water. Before that these waters were used illegally and for free.
According to government estimates, conservation of a well will require
about 4 million drams. -0-
http://arka.am/en/news/economy/ministry_of_nature_protection_conserves_and_closes _107_illegally_operating_artesian_wells_in_armenia/#sthash.V2yxn7Ue.dpuf
YEREVAN, October 27. / ARKA /. Armenia's ministry of nature protection
has conserved and closed a total of 107 illegally operating artesian
wells, saving 11,333 liters of water per second, up from 243 litters
of water per second saved in 2013, according to deputy minister of
nature protection Khachik Hakobyan.
Speaking at a news conference the deputy minister said on July 16
the minister ordered to set up a special working group to monitor
over 200 artesian wells.
He said 63 of the closed or conserved artesian wells were run by
fish farms, 8 by the Armenian Water and Sewerage Company and 36 by
Yerevan Jur, a French company operating Yerevan's drinking and waste
water systems.
The illegal water users were fined a total of 6.4 million drams,
said the deputy minister adding also that the ministry has started
a large-scale inspection of Armenian Water and Sewerage Company and
Yerevan Jur. The deputy minister also recalled a string of legislative
changes enforced this year to improve the monitoring and control of
artesian wells.
He said the ministry is going to launch a pilot program designed for
continuous monitoring at water intake points.
"If the program is successful, we will extend it both to fish farms,
communities and water consuming companies," he said.
The Armenian government has allocated 71 million drams for the
management of artesian basin in 2014 and 2015. The deputy minister
said 'until September 2015 we will have a complete concept of a plan
how to effectively manage these resources."
According to government figures, about 50% of underground water
resources are concentrated in the Ararat artesian basin. Over the past
decades numerous deep wells were dug there, many of which illegally.
In 2013 July the government began charging for use of artesian water
- 15 drams for a cubic meter of deep water and 5 drams of surface
water. Before that these waters were used illegally and for free.
According to government estimates, conservation of a well will require
about 4 million drams. -0-
http://arka.am/en/news/economy/ministry_of_nature_protection_conserves_and_closes _107_illegally_operating_artesian_wells_in_armenia/#sthash.V2yxn7Ue.dpuf