102
4 River Basin Management
supervising operation of water projects managed by the provinces; and (5) mediating
interprovincial water disputes.
With national social and economic developments, environmental and ecological
problems became increasingly serious. After 1975, RBOs set up water and soil
conservation management departments and the river basin water resources protection
bureau, extending management to include environmental and ecological protection.
To some degree, river basin management comprised both water quantity and quality.
4.4.1.4 1988–2002
This basic framework of RBO lasted into the twenty-first century, with seven commissions for interprovincial river basins under the direct administration of MWR. Before
the 2002 Water Law, their functions were delegated by MWR.
After the issuance of the 1988 Water Law, MWR was reorganized as the WAD
of the State Council. RBOs were not defined as governmental agencies but rather as
residential missions of MWR tasked with implementing water administrative rights
according to mandates.
The 1988 Water Law declared that “the state implements a water resources system
combining integrated management with hierarchical and departmental management.
The WAD of the State Council is responsible for the integrated water resource
management for the nation, the relevant departments of the State Council are responsible for relevant water resource management works to coordinate with the WAD of
the State Council according to the arrangements of the State Council. The local WADs
and relevant departments are responsible for relevant water resource management
works according to functions by the local government at the same level” (Article 9,
1988 Water Law). RBO is therefore not defined in the 1988 Water Law.
Although without legal status and clarification before the 1980s, RBOs had significant power over river basin management from the State Council, with the authority
to appoint leaders of the organizations and arrange central investments by these
commissions. The reforms after the 1980s greatly changed RBOs: rapid social and
economic development required more support for water resources and the environment, and decentralization strengthened local and sectoral economic independence.
The reduction of central investment and downgrade of the administrative level of
RBOs weakened river basin management and caused the problems described in the
following paragraphs:
Ambiguous legal status of RBOs. The 1988 Water Law did not define river basin
management in China or the legal status of RBOs. The law stated that the water
administrative body and law enforcement agencies were water resources departments
at each level of government. In institutional reform with aims to clarify functions
between governmental organizations, agencies, and enterprises, RBOs were defined
as an agency. In China, an agency is defined as a non-profit organization that provides
socially beneficial services without administrative functions.
4 River Basin Management
supervising operation of water projects managed by the provinces; and (5) mediating
interprovincial water disputes.
With national social and economic developments, environmental and ecological
problems became increasingly serious. After 1975, RBOs set up water and soil
conservation management departments and the river basin water resources protection
bureau, extending management to include environmental and ecological protection.
To some degree, river basin management comprised both water quantity and quality.
4.4.1.4 1988–2002
This basic framework of RBO lasted into the twenty-first century, with seven commissions for interprovincial river basins under the direct administration of MWR. Before
the 2002 Water Law, their functions were delegated by MWR.
After the issuance of the 1988 Water Law, MWR was reorganized as the WAD
of the State Council. RBOs were not defined as governmental agencies but rather as
residential missions of MWR tasked with implementing water administrative rights
according to mandates.
The 1988 Water Law declared that “the state implements a water resources system
combining integrated management with hierarchical and departmental management.
The WAD of the State Council is responsible for the integrated water resource
management for the nation, the relevant departments of the State Council are responsible for relevant water resource management works to coordinate with the WAD of
the State Council according to the arrangements of the State Council. The local WADs
and relevant departments are responsible for relevant water resource management
works according to functions by the local government at the same level” (Article 9,
1988 Water Law). RBO is therefore not defined in the 1988 Water Law.
Although without legal status and clarification before the 1980s, RBOs had significant power over river basin management from the State Council, with the authority
to appoint leaders of the organizations and arrange central investments by these
commissions. The reforms after the 1980s greatly changed RBOs: rapid social and
economic development required more support for water resources and the environment, and decentralization strengthened local and sectoral economic independence.
The reduction of central investment and downgrade of the administrative level of
RBOs weakened river basin management and caused the problems described in the
following paragraphs:
Ambiguous legal status of RBOs. The 1988 Water Law did not define river basin
management in China or the legal status of RBOs. The law stated that the water
administrative body and law enforcement agencies were water resources departments
at each level of government. In institutional reform with aims to clarify functions
between governmental organizations, agencies, and enterprises, RBOs were defined
as an agency. In China, an agency is defined as a non-profit organization that provides
socially beneficial services without administrative functions.