The Armenian National Assembly has passed, in a heated debate, the legal proposal allowing the release of 150 cubic meters of water from Lake Sevan.

The bill was approved with a vote of 93 in favor and 12 against.

Speaking in parliament before the voting, Ruben Hakobyan of the opposition Heritage faction said they are going to vote against the proposal, taking into consideration its serious environmental impact.

Ex Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan, who now represents the opposition Armenian National Congress faction in parliament, said the rich water resources of Armenia never seem to meet their purpose.

“Water is our oil,” he said, adding that the release of 150 cubic meters of water is equivalent to 150,000 tons of oil.

But the former minister of Nature Protection, Vardan Ayvazyan (Republican Party faction) argued his position, noting that the level water in Sevan has increased very rapidly since 2002.
 

“From 2002 onwards, Sevan’s level has increased by 4.15 meters, and now our Government wants water for our people. So there we are, should we not give it to them?” he said, calling upon all the lawmakers to vote in favor of the bill.