Farmers to be able to use water from aquatic basins to irrigate lands in Moldova

Chisinau, 21 August /MOLDPRES/ – The water in water basins of Moldova can be used to irrigate farmland, and aqueduct owners, no matter what form of ownership, will no longer have the right to foreclose access to water for the needs of community. The decision was approved at the meeting of Cabinet of Ministers on 20 August.

The State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, Iurie Usurelu, stated that the project was developed to solve some litigations that have arisen in recent years between water users and owners of reservoirs or ponds.

Thus, at present, local public authorities (ALP) are using the storage lakes, but in their decisions, in some cases, it is not indicated the purpose of assignment and main conditions of water use, or sometimes the tenants do not observe the contractual provisions. This has led to multiple complaints and requests to the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment (MADRM), as the leaseholders of aquatic basins are engaged in fish farming and do not allow rest on the shores of lakes or pumping water for irrigation.

Thus, according to the decision approved by the Government, water basin owners will no longer have the right to do so.

The document also stipulates that limiting or prohibiting the use of water may be declared only by the Commission for Emergency Situations of Moldova (CSEM) in cases of exceptional situations stipulated in the environmental permit for special use of water.

(Reporter N. Sandu, editor A. Raileanu)