USAID allocated $ 1mln to implement PURE-water program in Ararat Valley

ArmInfo. The implementation of  the first component of the USAID program "PURE Water - Participatory  Utilization and Resource Efficiency of Water" was completed, the  total cost of which is estimated at $ 1 million. The director for  implementation of the programs of the Sustainable Development Fund  Armine Tuhikyan told ArmInfo correspondent on March 29 in the  fields of the working meeting of the initiators and participants of  the.

According to her, the first component envisaged conducting a study in  the legislative field with the aim of identifying gaps that hampered  effective water use. A.Tuhikyan noted that on this basis an  appropriate strategy was developed with the participation of lawyers  and international experts.

The second component provides for the protection of the interests of  villagers who, having no water resources for irrigation, is forced to  migrate from the country. To this end, according to Tuhikyan,  mechanisms will be developed for public control over water quality  and effective use. The third component of the program will be aimed  at raising the level of education. "We intend to develop an  educational program for different audiences, from kindergartens to  households, most of whom do not have the necessary information," she  said.

In a conversation with ArmInfo, Deputy Minister of Nature Protection  Khachik Hakobyan noted that 6 communities of Ararat and 6 communities  of Armavir regions are beneficiaries of the program. In particular,  he noted that a digital map is being developed to obtain an accurate  picture of groundwater, and 20 points of automatic water resources  management will be installed in the first half of 2018. he stressed.

Expert of the PURE Water program, researcher at the Environmental Law  Research Center of the Yerevan State University, Heghine Hakhverdyan,  noted that the main focus of the program is to involve residents of  these communities in the discussions and decision-making process  related to water resources management.  "In the short term, the main  task that we have included in the agenda is the introduction of a  system of public control over water quality and water supply," the  expert said.

The Sustainable Development Fund , and the ESU Environmental Law Research Center implement  the program.