SOS: Reservoir built by Armenia on Vedi river will cause a sharp decrease in the water level in Araz

SOS: Reservoir built by Armenia on Vedi river will cause a sharp decrease in the water level in Araz
# 02 November 2022 17:03 (UTC +04:00)

Armenia will complete the construction of the reservoir on the Vedi River in 2023, the capacity of which is 32 million cubic meters. The French Development Agency granted a loan of 20 million euros to Armenia for the implementation of this project.

Said Safarov, head of the department of the Institute of Geography and Doctor of Geographic Sciences, told APA that considering that the Vedi River is one of the main sources that feed the transboundary river Araz, the implementation of such a project poses a risk for the water security of the region.

According to him, a sharp decrease in water in the Araz River can be observed, especially during the filling of the reservoir: "The water capacity of the reservoir is quite large. For this reason, it will negatively affect both the hydrological regime and the ecological situation of Araz. Besides, like other countries of the region, the drinking water flowing to Azerbaijan will decrease, and the threat of water shortage will increase. In this regard, of course, we can apply to international organizations, but these appeals will be left unanswered. As you know, various institutions were appealed regarding the poisoning of our rivers by Armenia in the liberated territories. There was no result. International laws do not work today. On the other hand, Iran has built many dams on the Karachay, which causes considerable damage to the hydrological regime of the river."

Professor of Baku State University, Doctor of Geographic Sciences Chingiz Ismayilov, told APA that the management of water resources of transboundary rivers should be based on an intergovernmental agreement.

"Araz is a transboundary river. It passes through the territory of several countries. Of course, we should apply to international organizations and put this issue on the agenda since it affects the interests of Azerbaijan. Especially during the period of warming, water scarcity becomes a more acute problem. During the filling period of the reservoir, this shortage will manifest itself 100 percent. I believe that this issue should be raised before international organizations. The construction of the reservoir will affect the level of groundwater and change the microclimate, which is a very serious matter. The creation of reservoirs, especially in plain areas, causes great consequences. Swamping process is taking place in the surrounding areas”," he said.

The professor also added that Armenia constantly discharges waste, wastewater from industrial enterprises, and water rich in heavy metals beyond the norm into the Araz River and its tributaries: “Of course, monitoring should be conducted in this field. If something happens to us, Armenians spread the word. We have to do this. Azerbaijan signed the international document in accordance with 17 aims of sustainable development in 2015. We regularly develop reports. Sustainable development is based on 3 main pillars: economic, social, and environmental.

We are not in a closed space from an economic point of view. As the processes happening in Azerbaijan affect the outside, ecological violations occurring in our environment affect us. Especially regarding rivers. Because some rivers flowing through the territory of our neighbors eventually pass through our territory and flow into the Caspian Sea. These complications show themselves prominently in our country. Therefore, we should manage the change in the volume and quality of the water.”

Note that Armenia conducts ecologic terror against the Araz river, which plays a role as both a drinking water, and irrigation source for the countries of the region, for years. Okhchu river, flowing to the Araz river, is polluted with wastewater rich in heavy metals many times more than the norm, discharged from industrial facilities in the territory of Armenia.

Moreover, acts committed by Armenians in Azerbaijani areas, which were under occupation for 30 years, led to environmental disaster, fatal wounds were inflicted on the animal and plant life of those areas, as a result of which entire forest massifs were wiped off the face of the earth, rivers have dried up, rare animal and plant species have been erased from the earth.

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