OREANDA-NEWS. On 5 February 2008 was announced, that the greatest decrease in the water level of Baikal in the last past six years - by 45 cm - was marked in 2001. This information was received from Deputy Head - Chief of the Territorial Water Resources Department of the Irkutsk area and Ust-Orda Buryat District of the Yenisei Water Basin Administration Mikhail Ludwig making comments on the statement of Deputy Head of Rosprirodnadzor Oleg Mitvol that in October - November - December of 2007 the serious falling of the level of the lake started. Mr. Ludwig explained that the indicator of decrease directly depends on the level. So, if in 2001 the water level equaled 456.94 m (at the maximum admissible fluctuation of up to 457 m, according to the Governmental Order of the Russian Federation) there was an opportunity to lower it up to the mark of 456.49 m (by 45 cm). Thus, the fact that from October 1 to December 31, 2007 the level of Lake Baikal decreased from 456.73 up to 456.41 m (by 32 cm) is, according to Mr. Ludwig, a usual phenomenon.

According to the Irkutsk Hydrometeorological Centre, the greatest charge of Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power Station was marked from October 2001 to April 2002: 1.98 ckm/s. As a whole, in winters of 2001-2002 and 2004-2005, the hydroelectric power station worked with greater discharge than in winter of 2006-2007. It was reported earlier in the press release of Irkutskenergo Company that in January of this year the Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power Station works with installed daily average discharge of 1.4 thousand ckm/s that corresponds to the approved schedule of evacuation of the lake water.

Last year the Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power Station generated 3.6 billion kWh. An average years-long generation of the station equals 4 billion kW/h, the maximum one is 5.05 billion kW/h.

It was reported earlier that this week the Ministry of Natural Resources published the statement that O. Mitvol on Wednesday initiated an administrative investigation in connection with sharp falling of the level of lake Baikal at the end of year 2007 - beginning of 2008. In particular, he associated it with increase in water discharge in the Angarsk cascade of hydroelectric power stations last year.