YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The 10-km water pipe of the Geghamasar community (Gegharkunik marz) is being removed without the village inhabitants' being warned about it. A 2-km section has already been removed, Vladimir Abrahamian, a villager, told reporters during the December 19 meeting. According to the official explanation of the regional prosecutor's office, the community has a social payment debt of 1.7 mln drams (about 4.6 thousand USD), as a result of which the water pipe was put under arrest, auctioned and sold. Contrary to the letter of the prosecutor's office, villagers say that the water pipe is not old and unfit for use: it was built in 1991, its operation term is 50 years, while the market value makes 100 thousand USD at current market prices. V. Abrahamian is convinced that if the 1,500-inhabitant village mainly populated by refugees is deprived of water, it will become deserted. Now Geghamasar is supplied with water by a pipe built several decades ago. The locals intend to apply to the RA president and the National Assembly in connection with this problem.

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