“How can municipalities manage water resources?” This was the topic discussed by experts of the U-LEAD Programme with the municipalities of the Poltava, Kharkiv and Cherkasy Oblasts and at the Coffee with Experts. The event was organised by the team of the Regional Office of U-LEAD in the Kharkiv Oblast.
As was stated by Oksana Cherkas, Head of the Regional Office, the Coffee with Experts is a format that facilitates live discussion and communication between representatives of the municipality and experts, as well as an opportunity to talk about the issues that are relevant to local self-government.
The event focused on the updates in the water resources management legislation. Oleksandr Hnitetskyi and Oleksandr Prydatko, Spatial Planning and Natural Resource Management Experts at U-LEAD, worked with the municipalities.
“The importance and potential of water resources cannot be understated. Management of water resources is a relatively new power for municipalities, and they are still gaining practical experience,” said Oleksandr Hnitetskyi.
According to him, there are significant changes in the water resources management legislation such as Law No. 963 dated 4 November 2020 which states that water and land are to be leased under one contract.
“Furthermore, we have this standard contract approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 572 dated 2 June 2021. Obviously, the war put most of the processes on hold, but thanks to our Armed Forces, the issue of water resources management is back on the agenda of many municipalities. We are on the right path, because it means development and meeting budget targets,” said the expert.
Approaches to water resources management as well as amendments to Law No. 2989 “Rental of Hydraulic Facilities and Fishing Licences” and Law No.2079 “Organisation of Water Users and Peculiarities of Use of Reclaimed Land” were also discussed at the event.
In particular, summarising the topics discussed, the experts highlighted the most important issues for municipalities. Firstly, the land plot is leased together with the water body located there + the lease contract for the hydraulic facility. Secondly, every water body on the territory of the municipality must have a manager. Thirdly, within the boundaries of settlements, the coastal protective strip is established subject to the urban planning documentation or, if there is none, in accordance with the Law.