OREANDA-NEWS. September 05, 2011. President Serzh Sargsyan conducted a working visit to Tavush marz. In Haghtanak community the President of Armenia attended the ceremony of opening of the Noyemberian 1 pumping station and familiarized with the accomplished works.

The pump will supply 2400 users of 1900 hectares of land from different communities of Tavush with the irrigative water. The pump was rebuilt through the financing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the US Government in the framework of the MCC-Armenia program. The mentioned works include also the reconstruction of the spillway dam. It is anticipated that after the restoration of the dam and pumping station over 5000 consumers will be able to irrigate nearly 3850 hectares of land.

In Voskevan community of the marz, President Serzh Sargsyan participated at the symbolic inauguration of the irrigation system for Voskevan, Voskepar, Baghanis and Koti communities (testing of the system have been conducted since June 15, 2011, and now it is fully operational).

The President of Armenia was briefed on the water-supply works. It was noted that earlier 2613 hectares of the communal land were irrigated with the waters of the Jogazh reservoir, through the Koti (Shavarshavan) and Voskepar pumping stations. In 1991 these pumping stations stopped functioning and gradually went out of action.

As a result, land which was not used for years, overgrew with grass. The task was to reinstate the irrigation of the land - this time through the gravity flow which became possible in the framework of the grant program of the Government of Armenia and RA International Fund for the Agriculture Development. The construction of the system allowed to reinstate irrigation of 1100 hectares of land.

During his visit, President Sargsyan was also informed on the programs for the gasification of Tavush marz in 2011-2012. Works on gasification of Voskepar, Baghanis, Koti and Voskevan communities have already commenced, while gasification of Barekamavan and Jujevan communities will begin in 2012. It was noted that the gasification is aimed at the improvement of social and communal conditions in the marz as well as at the resolution of ecological problems, considering the fact that the villagers cut nearby woods for heating.

It was noted that since 2007, gasification works in Tavush marz have been conducted in Achajur, Artsvaberd, Verin Karmir Aghbyur and Chinar communities.

At the conclusion of his visit to Tavus, President Sargsyan met with the inhabitants of Voskevan and neighboring villages.

Noting that the state decided on the policy of providing assistance to farmers, Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of the utmost attention toward the rural lands. President Sargsyan highlighted the import of developing lands which are now under irrigation, thanked the dwellers of these border villages for their optimism, hope and determination to make their villages prosperous through their own hard work.