He said this commenting on results of the working meeting at the Committee on January 13.
According to M. Tomenko, the Committee expressed concern over the information posted on the governmental website reading that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine plans "a transfer of the State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine to the system of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and charging it with responsibility for water supply as well as for efficient use of irrigated lands. They also plan a fundamental reform at all levels of management of the State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine and its decentralization."
In this regard, it was decided to repeatedly address the Prime Minister and the President of Ukraine, and point to the inadmissibility of the implementation of such plans over the threat to other sectors of the economy, and the functioning of the State.
M. Tomenko also stressed that the transfer of the State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine under the management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food will lead to destabilization of the water resources management system, to the loss or leveling down of a number of functions important for the State, which are not foreseen in the authorities of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy. In particular, these are the functions of management, use and reproduction of surface water resources, ensuring the needs of the population and all sectors of the economy of Ukraine in water resources, their rational use, prevention of harmful water effect and elimination of its consequences, including flood protection, carrying out of environmental protection measures, establishment of modes of the functioning of reservoirs and ponds, and control over abiding by modes of the functioning of reservoirs, water systems and canals, water monitoring, etc.
"Of the entire volume of authorities entrusted to the State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine, the issues in the competence of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy form insignificant part and concern primarily the issues of land reclamation. Over 80% of functions have environmental component and directed at solving issues connected with water factor, which is not peculiar for the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, and defined by the Regulations on the State Water Resources Agency. Instead, the main task of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy is formation of policy only in the area of ??agriculture and food security of the State," Mykola Tomenko stressed.
"It is important that the adaptation of a set of six European directives making up the sector "Water quality and water resource management, including marine environment" of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, is carried out by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources through the State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine," the Chairperson of the Committee said.
In his opinion, it is necessary to preserve the existing order of direction and coordination by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of the State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine's activity through the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine.