YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The recently constructed juncture in the Vorotan-Arpa tunnel will make it possible to bypass the epicenter of rock eruption–similar to the one that took place in the second face of the tunnel in February of this year. Arpa-Sevan CJSC Director told Noyan Tapan that the project on bypassing the epicenter was launched a few days ago and the construction crew has already drilled five meters deep.
If properly financed–the project will be completed by the end of 2000–the manager said.
The construction of the 22-kilometer-long tunnel began in 1981. According to the design–water of the Vorotan river from the Spandarian reservoir will be channeled to Arpa-Sevan. The operation of the tunnel will allow 165 million cubic meters of water to be channeled from the Vorotan river to Lake Sevan every year that will raise the level of the lake by 10-15 centimeters per year.