Irrigation development: the Ministry of Economy discussed steps to accelerate the transfer of hydro-reclamation property to water user organizations

Large-scale land reclamation reform is underway in Ukraine, and one of the key aspects of this process is the transfer of state hydro-reclamation property to water user organizations (WUs). This issue was the subject of a meeting chaired by Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Iryna Ovcharenko.

Representatives of the State Water Agency, the State Fish Agency, the State Geocadastre, water management organizations, WUs and specialized associations, including the Ukrainian Water Association, joined the discussion.

🔎 Main highlights of the meeting:

⚠️ Only engineering irrigation facilities are being transferred.
Water resources remain the property of the people of Ukraine and are protected by the Water Code of Ukraine. Privatization of rivers is impossible.

🏗 Land reclamation networks need urgent modernization.
Most of the infrastructure is worn out, and the UECs are able to attract private investment and upgrade systems where the state is limited in financial capabilities.

⏩ Strategic position of the Ministry of Economy:
The State Water Agency should focus not on maintaining outdated pumping stations and canals, but on managing all the country’s water resources so that water is guaranteed to be available to communities, farmers, and industry.

🤝 Meeting results

The participants agreed on the need to accelerate the inventory and transfer of UEC property to ensure their full and effective operation as soon as possible.

🔗 More details: in the material of the Ministry of Economy
https://me.gov.ua/News/Detail/597c322a-ca21-4cba-b995-041e18be3e7b?lang=uk-UA&title=RozvitokZroshennia