YEREVAN. –  The government will discuss prices for irrigation water amid increase in electricity prices, an Armenian official said. 

Andranik Andreasyan, head of the state committee for water management, said the Cabinet will analyze how the electricity price rise can affect water prices, taking into account the expenses of pumping stations.

Andreasyan recalled that in 2014 the government will allocate around $2.45 million for additional pumping of groundwater in Ararat valley to reduce irrigation water withdrawals from Lake Sevan. This amount is to cover financial needs of communities serving farmers.

“But they are already receiving a subsidy from us, so in the last few years, as you know, the tariff for irrigation water has not changed - it makes 11 drams per cubic meter throughout the country,” he said.