Armenian PM gets acquainted with irrigation system rehabilitation works in Armavir region.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan visited Aragats and Aghavnatun communities of Armavir marz to get acquainted with irrigation system rehabilitation works.

In Aragats community in process is the second stage of Lower Hrazdan’s 2.183 km-long canal restoration work with an estimated cost of AMD 324mn. The upgraded canal will reduce water losses by about 4.1 million cubic meters to ensure additional 490 hectares of irrigated area. The entity responsible for water management has a total of 10 thousand water users and about 6,2 thousand hectares of irrigated land. A 1km-long segment has already been restored, with the whole project due to be complete in April, 2013.

Aghavnatun community’s irrigation network will be upgraded to a total cost of AMD 155.787mn. The total length of rehabilitated divides is 6.361 km, covering 240 hectares of irrigated estate owned by 750 water users.

Restoration will reduce water losses by about 1.1 million cubic meters to ensure additional 154 hectares of irrigated area. A 3.836 km-long segment out of the planned 6.361 is already complete, with the whole project scheduled for completion by this April 30.

Rehabilitation activities in Aghavnatun community are carried out on the basis of a single contract covering 12 communities from 3 administrative areas: Baghramian, Myasnikyan, Dalarik, Karakert, Bagaran, Vanand, Yervandashat, Lernagog communities from Talin irrigation system, Arevadasht, Hatsik, Noravan communities from Armavir irrigation system and Aghavnatun community from Lower Hrazdan irrigation system. The contract has a total cost of AMD 863,888 thousand covering an area of 28.464 km.

The rehabilitation work is implemented with extra funds allocated under the World Bank-supported “Emergency Rehabilitation of Irrigation Systems” program.

The revolving credit on the waterways of the Lower Hrazdan I-line canal, which will be part of a total length of 1.203 km, the lower line of the Hrazdan II-canal (2.183 km) and “Shahi Arhu” canal (1.712 km).

The aforementioned three canals will be upgraded through an AMD 869,999 thousand-worth credit arrangement.

Tigran Sargsyan talked to the local farmers about their problems and answered their questions.