YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–A commission for tariff policy in the water supply industry is likely to begin operating in 2002. State Water Management Committee Chairman Gagik Martirossian said that the commission is expected to be set up after the adoption of a "Water Code" and it is likely to be involved in the Energy Regulatory Commission.
According to decision made by the government in February 2001–three committees are to regulate the water supply: the State Water Management Committee–a body on regulation of water resources and an independent tariff commission.
Martirossian said the body of regulation of water resources will be set up in the near future and will be developing a national program on water resources–seeing to regulate the monetary affairs of the water management company. The State Water Management Committee will continue to maintain drinking and irrigation water supply facilities as well as distribute the supplies of drinking and irrigation water.
"It is logical: these three bodies cannot be together. The government’s decision in this sense is impartial and it is being gradually realized," said Gagik Martirossian.