ArmInfo. A new village will be built in Armenia with the tentative name Nor Jradzor. At a meeting on August 27, the government of the country approved an action plan for land acquisition within the framework of the program "Combined water resources management (Akhuryan river, phase 1)".
According to the Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia Vache Terteryan, the matter concerns the construction of the Kaps reservoir using the waters of the Akhuryan River. The project is being implemented with the financial assistance of the German bank KfW. The total cost of the program is 60 million euros, of which 50 million euros is a loan from the Bank. The Deputy Minister recalled that on December 19, 2014, a loan agreement was signed between the Bank and the Republic of Armenia, which provides for the implementation of a project for the construction of a gravity irrigation system at the Kaps reservoir. The project provides for the reconstruction of a half-built reservoir, which began in 1985 and was commissioned in 1993. The reservoir is located in the valley of the Akhuryan river, 22 km north of Gyumri, in the Shirak region. The program includes rehabilitation of the Kaps dam, construction of a 25 million m3 reservoir, with the possibility of further expansion to 60 million m3. It is of national importance, since the implementation of the project will ensure the sustainable use of the water resources of the Akhuryan River. This will contribute to sustainable, environmentally friendly management of the region's water resources, improving the environmental situation, as well as developing rural areas and improving the living standards of the population. In addition, the project is aimed at promoting food security, increasing the efficiency of agriculture, reducing the target group's vulnerability to climate change, preserving the region's ecosystem, biodiversity, and reducing the risk of public safety under the Kaps reservoir dam.
The project itself, according to the Deputy Minister, is divided into 2 stages. On the first, it is planned to build a reservoir with a volume of 25 million cubic meters, on the second - to bring these volumes to 60 million cubic meters. In this context, it is imperative to ensure consistency and move on to the second stage immediately after completing the first. However, during the construction of an object of strategic importance, especially given the ambitions of a neighboring state, the village of Jradzor should be flooded. At the first stage of discussions, the issue of providing the residents of this village with housing certificates was considered, for which 3.3 billion drams would have to be allocated from the state budget, but subsequently it was decided to build a new village called Nor Jradzor. For the solution of this problem, the total amount of budgetary allocations will be 4.9 billion drams. Moreover, the construction of a new village should be financed by the government of the country. The construction site has already been determined. The new village will be distinguished by a modern design, which can also serve to develop the country's tourism potential. The deputy minister noted that a consultant will be selected for the development of a project for the construction of a new village, who will prepare the necessary documents within 5 months, after which a developer company will be selected within 10 months, which will complete this part of the program within 2.3 years. We are talking about the resettlement of 352 people.
In turn, RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed that for the first time in the history of Armenia, a village will be built from scratch, which will correspond to the government's idea of a new Armenian village, in which new architectural solutions will be applied. The village should become a model for organizing village life. The head of government also pointed out the importance of the construction of the Kaps reservoir, which may interest potential investors, especially in the process of pumping water. He recalled that at the end of 2021 - early 2022, the Vedi reservoir will be commissioned, which can also contribute to an increase in efficiency in the management of the country's water resources, which amount to 7 billion cubic meters per year, of which only 10% -15 are actually used. % of available potential. It should be noted that the volume of water resources of the Akhuryan river basin is 3.750 billion cubic meters, which are formed due to river flows (2.6 billion cubic meters), underground sources (1.1 billion), natural tributaries (0.23 million cubic meters) and snow ice (0.9 million cubic meters). The program provides for the construction of wastewater treatment plants in Armavir, Metsamor and Echmiadzin. Another area of efficient use of water resources will be the use of drip irrigation systems. The capacity of the Cape Reservoir will be 60 million cubic meters with a 51 meter long dam. The project provides for the construction of auxiliary structures for the dam of the Kap reservoir, equipping of hydrological observation points of the Akhuryan River (from the Arpi reservoir to the Akhuryan reservoir), the construction of additional stations, and the creation of a centralized database (SCADA system). As a result, it will be possible to replace mechanical irrigation of 2,280 hectares of land with gravity irrigation, which will save 1.3 million kWh of electricity per year. With the construction of the reservoir, it will become possible to expand the irrigated area by 7 thousand hectares in the Talin region. The project is scheduled to be completed in 3.5 years. Earlier, KfW Bank provided Armenia with a loan of 50 million euros and a grant of 2 million euros for the implementation of the program. The funds were provided for a period of 15 years with a 5-year grace period at a fixed credit rate. On June 20, the Armenian government also approved an agreement with KfW to provide a grant of 2.7 million euros for the development of documentation for the restoration of the Cape reservoir. Then, presenting the draft decision, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan noted that within the framework of the agreement, KfW will provide Armenia with a loan of 18.5 million euros out of the planned 50 million euros for the restoration of the Cape reservoir, the volume of which will be increased to 25 million cubic meters. ... It is also planned to modernize the Kumayri water canal, which will supply water from the reservoir and due to which it will be possible to irrigate 740 hectares of agricultural land.
