19 February 2004 17:56
New Russian Water Code allows privatization, harsher pollution penalties
Moscow, 19 February: The Russian Federation's government has granted permission for water resources to be
acquired into private ownership.
This is stated in a new version of the Water Code which was endorsed today at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers,
Mukhamed Tsikanov, deputy head of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, has told journalists.
According to Tsikanov, as of today a private owner will be able to acquire "those water resources that are
located on territory adjacent to him and that have nothing in hydraulic terms to do with other water
resources".
As for the size of water resources being acquired, then according to the plans of the Ministry of Economic
Development and Trade, it used to be limited to 2,000 sq.m. However, a decision was taken at today's meeting to
raise this limit.
The new version of the new code also abolishes the water tax that used to be charged on water users and used to go
into regional budgets. From today taxes will be replaced by payments that will go directly into the federal budget.
Moreover, the payment rates will be set by the Russian government depending on the location of "this or that water
basin".
In line with the new document, all water space in Russia is being divided into 10 water basin districts that will be
managed "by a new single federal body" with branches in these 10 regions.
The new version of the Water Code also envisages harsher ecological demands with regard to normative disposal and
pollutants. [Passage omitted]
At the same time access to water resources has been made easier. Whereas before you needed to obtain five permits to
use water resources, now you only need to get one.
The new version of the new code will go to the State Duma for consideration within a month.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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