Armenia's Environment Protection Minister: Increased use of Sevan's water must not result in dropping level

The plans to increase the use of Sevan's water must not lead to a drop in the lake's level, Armenia's Environment Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan told journalists on Friday.

"If the level drops, we will reduce the releases. In any case, this is a temporary measure. It will help us to restore the subsoil water resources of the Ararat Valley," the Minister said.

In the next five years the Armenian authorities are going to increase water releases from Sevan from 170mln c m to 240mln c m. Experts are afraid that this may lower the lake's level and enhance seismic risks.