Parliament gives first hearing approval of bill banning additional annual drainage of Lake Sevan

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian parliament at first hearing adopted a bill authored by MP Varazdat Karapetyan on ruling out the possibility of additional water drainage from Lake Sevan. The allowed annual volumes for water release are 170 million cubic meters.

73 MPs voted in favor, 8 against and 37 abstained.

The MP, who is also the chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self Governance, Agriculture and Environment, said that since 2012 virtually every year the government has requested parliament to allow additional water release, and up to 350 million cubic meters was drained. The lawmaker proposed the defined 170 million cubic meters to be the maximum allowed volume. He stressed that Lake Sevan cannot solely be viewed as a water reserve.

Opposition Bright Armenia abstained, noting concerns that the bill can simply be “symbolic”. Party leader Edmon Marukyan said they will discuss a potential vote in favor if their concerns get dispelled.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan