286
13 Water Resource Assets Management Reform
Therefore, the only reform of the 2018 governmental restructuring of the management of water resource assets was the development of the ownership rights of water
resources and the transfer of powers to the MNR.
13.3.2 Key Activities
The reform of the management of natural resource assets was launched in 2013, and
the governmental restructuring took place in 2018; therefore, the key tasks related to
the reform of the management of water resource assets are currently being undertaken
by MWR.
In August 2014, the MWR issued the Guidance to Deepen Water Sector Reform.
The Guidance requires that the water rights system be established and improved.
The document requires that water resources usufructuary rights be clarified and
registered to form a water resource assets system with a “clear holding, clear rights
and responsibility, [and] effective management.” The regional total water abstraction
and use volume, as well as its rights and benefits, shall be clarified by allocating and
codifying the control of regional total water use and river basin water resources.
The rights and benefits of the water abstractor shall be clarified by improving the
water abstraction permit system. The rural collective water-use rights for the ponds
and reservoirs built and managed by the collective economic organization shall also
be clarified and registered. The new water abstractor from the industrial and service
sector will be explored to get water-use rights from the government through payment.
At the same time, the trading of water rights will be promoted in pilots to conduct
trade among regions and users and to explore water rights transfer forms. In July
2014, MWR launched seven water rights pilots at different levels. The pilots were
designed to clarify and register water-use rights, the water rights trade, and water
rights system development to ensure national promotion of the water rights system.
All pilots were finished before 2018.
2
The MWR’s guidance dealt with the clarification and registration of water
resources usufructuary rights and not with ownership rights; therefore, it is different
from the general document of the State Council. As discussed in Sect. 13.2, in the
documents published after 2013, the reform of the management of natural resources
did not include clarification and registration of usufructuary rights.
Another important document is that on a joint pilot conducted by MWR and MLR
in 2016 on the clarification of water flow rights. In November 2016, MWR and MLR
jointly issued a pilot plan clarifying the water flow rights. The document defined water
flow by labeling the body of water using the general name of the river and outlining
important resources and ecological functions. The clarification of water flow rights
defines the scope of the water eco-space, including waters and shoreline; clarifies
water resources ownership rights, use rights, and volume; clarifies the responsibility
2 https://rmfp.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0107/c406725-29749431.html.
13 Water Resource Assets Management Reform
Therefore, the only reform of the 2018 governmental restructuring of the management of water resource assets was the development of the ownership rights of water
resources and the transfer of powers to the MNR.
13.3.2 Key Activities
The reform of the management of natural resource assets was launched in 2013, and
the governmental restructuring took place in 2018; therefore, the key tasks related to
the reform of the management of water resource assets are currently being undertaken
by MWR.
In August 2014, the MWR issued the Guidance to Deepen Water Sector Reform.
The Guidance requires that the water rights system be established and improved.
The document requires that water resources usufructuary rights be clarified and
registered to form a water resource assets system with a “clear holding, clear rights
and responsibility, [and] effective management.” The regional total water abstraction
and use volume, as well as its rights and benefits, shall be clarified by allocating and
codifying the control of regional total water use and river basin water resources.
The rights and benefits of the water abstractor shall be clarified by improving the
water abstraction permit system. The rural collective water-use rights for the ponds
and reservoirs built and managed by the collective economic organization shall also
be clarified and registered. The new water abstractor from the industrial and service
sector will be explored to get water-use rights from the government through payment.
At the same time, the trading of water rights will be promoted in pilots to conduct
trade among regions and users and to explore water rights transfer forms. In July
2014, MWR launched seven water rights pilots at different levels. The pilots were
designed to clarify and register water-use rights, the water rights trade, and water
rights system development to ensure national promotion of the water rights system.
All pilots were finished before 2018.
2
The MWR’s guidance dealt with the clarification and registration of water
resources usufructuary rights and not with ownership rights; therefore, it is different
from the general document of the State Council. As discussed in Sect. 13.2, in the
documents published after 2013, the reform of the management of natural resources
did not include clarification and registration of usufructuary rights.
Another important document is that on a joint pilot conducted by MWR and MLR
in 2016 on the clarification of water flow rights. In November 2016, MWR and MLR
jointly issued a pilot plan clarifying the water flow rights. The document defined water
flow by labeling the body of water using the general name of the river and outlining
important resources and ecological functions. The clarification of water flow rights
defines the scope of the water eco-space, including waters and shoreline; clarifies
water resources ownership rights, use rights, and volume; clarifies the responsibility
2 https://rmfp.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0107/c406725-29749431.html.