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Additional water intake from Lake Sevan will be inevitable in case low rainfalls continue in Armenia, the chairman of the State Committee for Water Management told a news conference on Thursday, adding the past year was not favourable in terms of storing water resources. 

Meantime, Arsen Harutyunyan added currently there are no talks on additional water outlets from the lake. 

“The weather does not look promising. If continued, it will be inevitable to make additional water intake [from Lake Sevan]. We hope there will be rainfalls,” the official said, adding the Hydromet service has forecast abundant rains for the second half of February and for March.

According to Mr Harutyunyan, Akhuryan reservoir’s water levels have dropped from last year due to the shortage of water, with some measures underway to handle the situation.

In particular, he cited the plans to restore the deep water-wells in communities to deal with the irrigation problem in Armenia’s Armavir region. “We have already submitted a proposal to the Armenian Government; there are plans to restore the operation of 14 deep water-wells, with 23 more to be drilled,” he noted.

In addition, according to the official, talks are underway with the Russian officials to acquire portable pumping stations to transfer water from one place to another during shortage of water. “In other works, everything possible is being done for the farmers to be able to irrigate their lands,” he added.