Draft decree levies fee for exploiting water resources

A farmer waters his coffee trees. Under a draft decree of the MoNRE, organisation or individual might have to pay fee if using over  一00 cubic metres daily to water industrial trees, including coffee tree. — Illustrative photo baogialai.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — Any organisation or individual exploiting or using water for hydropower projects might have to pay for the right to exploit the nation’s water resources, as per a decree being drafted.

However, they exclude organisations or individuals running hydropower projects related to national defence or security.

It is one of three entities scheduled to pay to receive the right to exploit water resources under this draft decree compiled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which also regulates the levels of fees that an individual or organisation has to pay.

The decree was established with the concept that water resources are a national property, therefore, any individual or organisation wanting to exploit it, has to pay to use it. The draft decree’s major goal was to raise public awareness on the efficient use of water.

Following the draft decree, individuals and organisations wishing to exploit surface water, underground water, or seawater, for non-agricultural purposes, would also be charged a fee.

The same fee was expected to apply to anyone who used over  一00 cubic metres daily of underground water for aqua farming, breeding cattle, or watering plants such as coffee and cashew. — VNS