DUSHANBE , April 28, Asia-Plus - Discussions on draft law “Water Users’ Association” will be held in Dushanbe today, Akramsho Felaliyev, Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon ( Tajikistan ’s lower chamber of parliament) Committee on Agriculture and Employment, said.   

According to him, at present an extensive legislative work on agricultural issues, management and use of water resources is ongoing in the country.  

“A number of Water Users’ Associations in the republic is increasing and therefore a special attention is paid to issues of water-user-association establishment and support,” said Mr. Felaliyev, ”To date, there have been 30 such Associations in Tajikistan; however, there has been no yet a law in the country that would regulate the use by the Associations of water resources, procedure of their activity and development.” 

The Ministry of Land Reclamation and Ware Resources drafted the bill “On the Water Users’ Associations of Tajikistan” that was submitted for consideration to the country’s parliament.  

The discussions participants include representatives from the government, parliament, ministry of land reclamation and water resources, committee for environmental protection and forestry and the republican water users’ associations, as well as representatives from international organizations, etc.  

The meeting is staged by the Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee on Agriculture and Employment under support of the Water-User-Association Support Program (Winrock International/WWUASP/USAID), CMP/SDS and the “Environmental Protection Patrol” NGO/UNEPCOM.