Part of the Prime Minister's Residence Fence on the Shores of Lake Sevan to be Dismantled, Says Romanos Petrosyan

According to Romanos Petrosyan, as of February 1, work has commenced on the demolition and dismantling of approximately 1,600 structures and auxiliary buildings located below the 1901.5 meter mark; over 30 dismantling operations have already been completed, and the ministry is not concerned about who they belong to.

In an interview with Sputnik Armenia, Environment Minister Romanos Petrosyan discussed the dismantling activities of illegal buildings on Sevan's public beaches and along the coastal areas adjacent to the peninsula and the lakeside near the Sevan marina. The minister has received information that some structures belong to a representative of an inspection body or a relative of a national park employee; therefore, according to the minister, these will be among the first to be demolished.

He stated that the work has begun from the coastal areas of the peninsula, where the highest tourist traffic is present.

Addressing the Prime Minister's residence, a section of which is also located below the 1901.5 meter mark, Petrosyan emphasized that all buildings situated below the defined mark are subject to demolition as they will be flooded. He noted that part of the fence of the Prime Minister's residence on the shores of Sevan will also be dismantled.

“Compared to the same days last year, the water level of Sevan has risen by 12 centimeters, and we will maintain this trend. The issue is not only aesthetic or urban development; if there are illegal service buildings, public food points, or summer houses, it is not just about the building or stone that ends up underwater. There are infrastructures, sewage, and waste that directly contribute to the deterioration of the ecosystem,” said the Environment Minister.

According to Petrosyan, the priority for demolition is not solely about urban development aesthetics but is driven by the imperative to save and restore the ecosystem. There are nearly 1,000 lessees of the coastal areas, whose contracts will not be renewed, with some being terminated due to violations of contractual terms.

Petrosyan stated that the ministry is inclined to liberate the shores as much as possible not only from buildings and illegal constructions but also from lessees.

It is noteworthy that on January 26, Environment Minister Romanos Petrosyan announced to reporters that the contracting companies responsible for clearing illegal structures below the 1900 meter mark from the coastal areas of Lake Sevan have committed abuses in fulfilling their contractual obligations. He also noted that a criminal case has already been initiated regarding these facts, and unpaid amounts have been returned to the state budget.

It is also mentioned that for the dismantling of submerged forest layers and illegal structures, the government of Armenia allocated approximately 208 million drams in 2020 and 2021. The annual program for 2020 aimed to clear 271 hectares of coastal area, while the program for 2021 aimed for another 371 hectares.