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It is proposed to establish a procedure for issuing a one-time permit for mineral extraction for the purpose of constructing riverbed barriers with the package of drafts on Making Addenda to the RA Code on Subsoil and on Making Addendum to the Code on Administrative Offenses. It is also designed to define a toolkit for detection of cases of riverbed extraction by organizations that extract sand from river beds of border rivers in order to identify persons who have made an offense, which is mainly due to the need to solve the problems created around River Araks.

According to the second bill, the extraction of sand from the given riverbed by persons having the right to use subsoil for the purpose of extracting sand from the riverbeds of the border rivers in the border layer causes a fine to be imposed on the officials of the organization in the amount of five thousand times the minimum salary.

According to the RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Hovhannes Harutyunyan, the legislative package was revised based on the proposals presented by the Government after the first reading.

The Government introduced 6 proposals.

The Deputy Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Babken Tunyan mentioned that there are a number of issues that are problematic. He proposed to endorse the package of drafts without making amendments. And according to the NA Rules of Procedure law, reject the drafts in the plenary sitting, after which it will go to the first reading phase at the suggestion of the key rapporteur, which will give an opportunity to debate and solve all the problems within a month.

The legislative package was endorsed.

Babken Tunyan drew the attention of relevant bodies to illegal mining.

Hovhannes Harutyunyan informed that by the Prime Minister’s decision, an Inter-Departmental Commission was established, which deals with the problems of illegal mining. He offered the deputies to take part in the committee meetings, which was accepted.

The RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure informed the commissioners about the situation in the Sotk mine. According to him, the Sotk open mine will complete the planned works within a month. Preparations for operation are underway in the closed mine. It was noted that the Government is doing everything to solve the problems that have arisen with its capabilities and resources.

The legislative package was debated at the extraordinary sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on May 12.