The National Assembly officially passed the Law on Water Resources (amended)

Before the delegates voted, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy presented a summary report explaining, accepting and revising the draft Law on Water Resources (amended).

Regarding water resource protection and water source restoration, Mr. Huy said that in response to the opinions of National Assembly deputies, the draft Law has been revised in the direction of management according to technical standards and regulations for technical regulations such as: prevention and control of seawater pollution; exploitation of water resources for daily life; collection and treatment of used water in industrial production, mineral exploitation and processing; prevention and control of saltwater intrusion; prevention and control of land subsidence; prevention and control of landslides and landslides on river and lake banks and beaches.

There are opinions suggesting to clearly define the legal basis for determining the minimum flow. Regarding this content, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly believes that the regulation of the minimum flow in the draft Law is inherited from the Law on Water Resources 2012, Resolution No. 62 dated November 27, 2013 of the National Assembly on strengthening the management of planning, investment in construction, operation and exploitation of hydropower works and has been implemented stably for many years. Therefore, there is enough legal and practical basis for the regulation of the minimum flow.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy.

Mr. Huy affirmed that, taking into account the opinions of the National Assembly deputies, the draft Law has been reviewed, supplemented, and adjusted to regulate the priority of investment in searching, exploring, exploiting water resources, and storing water; there are preferential policies for investment projects in exploiting water for daily life and production for people in areas with scarce fresh water, ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, border areas, and islands;

Encourage the implementation of water storage activities; apply and develop technology in water storage; prioritize investment and construction of water storage works combined with artificial groundwater replenishment in islands and water-scarce areas; encourage organizations and individuals to research solutions and implement artificial groundwater replenishment, and at the same time assign the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment to specify the artificial groundwater replenishment.

Regarding the exploitation and use of water resources, there are suggestions to supplement regulations related to the licensed water volume to be more flexible in normal and abnormal conditions as in Point h, Clause 2, Article 42 because the water exploitation license only stipulates one flow value under normal exploitation conditions.

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly found that the adjustment of exploitation flow under normal conditions has been shown in the license through the water exploitation quota specified in Point d, Clause 1, Article 41 and in abnormal conditions through the plan to regulate and distribute water resources when drought and water shortage occur as specified in Point h, Clause 2, Article 42. Therefore, please keep it as in the draft Law.

Regarding the proposal to review relevant regulations to strictly define responsibilities in exploiting water for domestic use. At the same time, assign the Government to specify automatic monitoring parameters, frequency, and periodic monitoring parameters to closely monitor changes in water quality before putting into water exploitation projects for domestic use.

In response to the opinions of the National Assembly Deputies, the draft Law has been reviewed and revised to strictly regulate the responsibilities of agencies in exploiting water for domestic use in Clauses 3 and 4, Article 43 on exploiting water resources for domestic use; on monitoring and supervising the exploitation of water resources in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 51 and assigning the Government to specify details in Clause 3, Article 51.

The National Assembly has officially passed the Law on Water Resources (amended).

Regarding economic tools, policies and resources for water resources, there are suggestions to study and supplement regulations on other legal funding sources other than the State budget to carry out the activities specified in Articles 72 and 74 of the draft Law.

According to Mr. Huy, taking into account the opinions of the National Assembly deputies, the draft Law has been reviewed, revised, and supplemented with provisions on ensuring financial policies and mechanisms for activities to restore degraded, depleted, and polluted water sources: Funds for restoring degraded, depleted, and polluted water sources are allocated from the State budget, capital sources for economic and environmental careers, development investment, environmental protection funds, payment sources from subjects causing degradation, depletion, and pollution of water sources, and other contributions from organizations and individuals;

At the same time, supplement the provisions in Clause 1, Article 34 of the Chapter on Protection and Restoration of Water Resources, adding provisions on developing plans, programs, and projects to restore degraded, depleted, and polluted water resources; prioritizing the restoration of "dead rivers" to restore water resources, create flows, and improve ecological landscapes, including programs, projects, and projects that prioritize the revival of rivers (as is being started with the Bac Hung Hai, Nhue, and Day rivers through the construction of dams to create flows).

After receiving and revising the draft Law, including 10 Chapters and 86 Articles, 7 Articles were added, 4 Articles were removed, and 3 Articles were increased compared to the draft Law submitted by the Government to the National Assembly .

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/quoc-hoi-chinh-thuc-thong-qua-luat-tai-nguyen-nuoc-sua-doi-a637989.html