YEREVAN, JULY 29, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved a 30 million-dollar Irrigation Rehabilitation Emergency Project for Armenia, Head of the World Bank Armenia Office Aristomene Varudakis announced during the July 29 press conference. The main canals in Armavir and Talin regions will be restored under the project. "The main canals 84 km in length will be repaired, thanks to which water losses will be reduced by 70 thousand cubic meters and lands of the total area of 7,300 ha can be irrigated," he said. Besides, according to him, the project will contribute to the creation of nearly 9,000 man-month jobs, and by its completion about 39 thousand water users in 73 communities will be direct beneficiaries of the rehabilitation project. The project-envisaged work will start in November 2009. The project will be financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and will finish until June, 2011. As regards the cooperation of the World Bank and the Projects Implementation Office, A. Varudakis considered it efficient. The 15 years of joint work have resulted in a considerable growth of irrigated lands and the introduction of most efficient irrigation technologies, including gravity irrigation system not requiring energy.

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