During inspections aimed at ensuring the protection of water resources, officers of the Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body identified several violations of water use regulations in the Lori and Armavir regions of Armenia.

At the «Aura Village» hotel complex, owned by Hovan LLC and located in the administrative area of Dsegh settlement in Lori Region, a deep well was being operated to provide accommodation and catering services without the required water use permit.

In the administrative area of Bazum settlement, also in Lori Region, individual entrepreneur Armen Asryan was using water from a nearby surface water catchment basin for stone processing, sawing and finishing activities without obtaining the permit required by law.

In the administrative area of Dasht settlement in Armavir Region, citizen H.A. had carried out drilling works for a deep well without a water use permit.

As a result of the violations identified, the offenders were subjected to administrative penalties totalling AMD 3,600,000.

By decisions of the heads of the Lori and Armavir Territorial Divisions of the Inspection Body, the unauthorised drilling of the deep well and the illegal water use activities were ordered to cease.

At the construction site of the newly built school in Geghakert settlement, Armavir Region, the operation of an illegally drilled deep well had previously been suspended. However, during a follow-up inspection, officers of the Inspection Body established that H.M., the person responsible for the construction site, had damaged the seal placed on the suspended well and resumed unauthorised water use.

In connection with the damage to the seal, and taking into account the established facts and the presence of indications of a criminal offence, the Inspection Body submitted a report to the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia concerning the suspected criminal act.