Around 150 buildings and structures will be dismantled on Lake Sevan

ArmInfo. At its October 1 meeting, the Armenian government approved an annual program of measures for the restoration, conservation, restoration, and use of the Lake Sevan ecosystem.

As noted in the rationale for the draft decision, the program includes a number of measures, the implementation of which is expected to improve

the ecological balance of Lake Sevan, preserve the biodiversity of the lake's ecosystems and its catchment area, and increase the efficiency of biological resource use. The program focuses on the design and construction of treatment facilities, the effective development of recreation, the improvement of the management system of Sevan National Park, and the development and implementation of socio-economic territorial development programs.

With changing water regimes and levels of Lake Sevan, the presence of existing buildings, infrastructure, and other structures in flood-prone areas may cause additional anthropogenic impacts on water quality and the ecosystem, as well as problems related to swamping processes, efficient use of water resources, and proper land management. To this end, the annual program includes measures to clean and dismantle underwater buildings and structures in flooded areas around Lake Sevan, including below the absolute mark of 1901.5 meters, as well as compliance with legal grounds and contractual requirements for land use. The project includes the dismantling of at least 150 buildings and structures in flood-prone areas below the absolute elevation of 1901.5 meters, removal of the resulting debris, and cleanup of the affected areas. Concurrently, it is planned to study the legal basis for land use, contracts, state registration data, land plot boundaries, and actual use of approximately 200 land plots located below the absolute elevation of 1905.0 meters within Sevan National Park, as well as compliance with rent and contractual terms.

The goal of the project is to minimize the potential negative impact on the Lake Sevan ecosystem caused by existing structures and waste accumulation in flood-prone areas.