The agricultural producers will easier gain access to surface waters for irrigation, based on a draft law to amend legal acts, including the Water Law, IPN reports.
Thus, the agricultural producers will have the right to install water pumps and mobile installations on areas situated near rivers or ponds for irrigating the land. Earlier this was not allowed.
The list of documents needed to obtain the environmental authorization for using water for irrigation was shortened. The given authorizations will be issued within 30 days without delaying the process.
The water users associations could rent gratis not only irrigation equipment, but also desiccation systems for taking away the pond water in excess, if necessary.
Prime Minister Pavel Filip said the problem of access to surface water for irrigation was repeatedly mentioned in his meetings with farmers.
“I hope a lot that these changes will solve this problem. Everyone should understand that the lakes and ponds in the Republic of Moldova are intended mainly for irrigation,” stated Pavel Filip.
The Cabinet also approved supplements to the Contravention Code to punish the lessees of ponds who will prevent agricultural producers from placing and using water pumps for irrigating crops. Fish breeders will be banned from taking water away from ponds for performing different works in favor of reusing it for the irrigation needs of agricultural producers.
