Government allows release of 170 million cubic meters of water from Lake Sevan
The Armenian government has approved today the release of 170 million cubic meters of water from Lake Sevan for irrigation purposes.
YEREVAN, April 12. /ARKA/. The Armenian government has approved today the release of 170 million cubic meters of water from Lake Sevan for irrigation purposes. The chairman of the State Water Committee Arsen Harutyunyan told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that the figure is subject to adjustment in case of need.br
br
The State Water Committee said earlier that the country’s water reservoirs contained 480.5 million cubic meters of water, which was 30 million cubic meters less than at this time last year and by 115 million cubic meters less than in the same time span of 2016. nbsp;Since March 22, water has been arriving into the lake through the Arpa-Sevan tunnel.br
br
The main problem is connected with the lands irrigated by water from the Akhuryan reservoir in the northwestern region of Shirak. At present, it has 336 million cubic meters of water, 36 million cubic meters less than in the same period in 2017.br
br
Armenia has five large water reservoirs used to irrigate agriculture land - the Akhuryan reservoir, the Arpi Lich reservoir, the Azat reservoir, the Marmarik reservoir and the Aparan reservoir. Of them only the Akhuryan reservoir is 60% full now, the others are full from 22 to 56%.br
br
According to official data, some 267 million cubic meters of water were nbsp;released from Lake Sevan for irrigation purposes in 2017, by 99.622 million cubic meters more than in 2016 and down from the planned 270 million cubic meters.nbsp;br
br
Lake Sevan is the largest body of water in Armenia and the Caucasus region and is one of the largest nbsp; freshwater alpine lakes in Eurasia. It is situated in Gegharkunik province at an altitude of 1,900 m above sea level. The lake is fed by 28 rivers and streams. Only 10% of the incoming water is drained by the Hrazdan River, while the remaining 90% evaporates. By 2030, the lake level is to be raised to 1903.5 m above sea level. -0-br
br