Chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the discussion of the performance report 2022 of the Ministry of Environment continued today.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan, Head of the State Supervision Service Romanos Petrosyan, Deputy Minister of Finance Vahan Sirunyan, officials from the Prime Minister's Office, the leadership of the Ministry, other officials participated in the consultation.

Prime Minister Pashinyan was presented with details on the progress of a number of programs of the Ministry of Environment, sectoral reforms were discussed during the exchange of ideas.

It was reported that within the framework of the "De-risking investments aimed at energy-efficient modernization of buildings" program, about 140 buildings were thermally modernized in 2018-2022, of which 100 were residential. Steps aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the program have been initiated. The works aimed at improving the environmental impact assessment process were also presented. The Prime Minister noted that the successful implementation of the mentioned programs is among the Government's priorities and instructed the officials in charge to keep them in the center of attention.

The results of the study carried out in the field of liquidation and/or conservation of deep wells were presented to the Head of the Government, it was noted that their number was specified, now the tenders held for the implementation of the works and technical control are being summarized. The Prime Minister was reported on the state of the artesian basin and conservation of river ecosystems. The Prime Minister emphasized that the process of water intake, drilling and effective management of the artesian basin is a strategic issue and instructed to move forward with a visible, measurable action plan.

Information was presented on the steps taken to raise the level of Lake Sevan, clean up the coastal area, organizing and improving public beaches, as well as the industrial fishing system for whitefish, the further activities of "The fund of restoration of stocks of Sevan trout and development of aquaculture”, and the programs for the restoration of other fish species. Among other measures, it was noted that in the reporting year, the number of fishermen cooperating with the state within the framework of the industrial whitefish hunting program reached 800, and from 2022, the export of whitefish caviar from the Republic of Armenia is prohibited. It is planned to create 3 more public beaches this summer with appropriate furnishing and a list of free services. Work is underway to modernize wastewater treatment plants.

The measures taken in the direction of the discovery and classification of natural monuments, increasing the efficiency of management and activity of SNCOs, reclamation of waste arising from subsoil use, and afforestation were also discussed. It was noted that with the introduction of the electronic system of authorization documents, the terms of their issuance have been significantly shortened.

Summarizing the discussion, the Prime Minister emphasized the clarification of the strategic vision of sectoral directions, as well as the study of advanced international experience and interdepartmental cooperation. The Head of the Government drew the attention of the officials to the need to increase the volume of afforestation and instructed to present a specific action plan, which will cover the promotion of planting material production, import and other components. Nikol Pashinyan referred to the introduction of the service of specially protected areas of nature, noting that the latter’s activities should be based on new standards and principles. Prime Minister Pashinyan also instructed to carry out active public awareness campaign about the programs and reforms implemented by the Ministry of Environment.