LEX-FAOC079440

This Decree, consisting of 20 articles divided int three Chapters, provides the establishment and management of water source protection corridors with regard to the water sources defined in Article 31 of Law No. 17/2012/QH13 on Water Resources. This Decree applies to state agencies, organizations, individuals and households that are involved in the establishment and management of water source protection corridors and activities within these corridors in the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Water sources related to religious or belief activities means the water sources regarded by local communities as sacred or as places for organization of belief-related activities. Water sources related to culture conservation activities means sections of rivers, streams, canals, ditches or lakes which are closely associated with scenic places or traditional historical cultural relics of localities. Water sources of high bio-diversity value means those closely associated with the regular or seasonal habitats of animal and plant species on the list of endangered and rare species prioritized for protection. Rivers, streams, canals or ditches for which water source protection corridors shall be established defined at Point c. Clause 1, Article 31 of the Law on Water Resources, include: a) Sections of rivers, streams, canals and ditches which are sources of water supply for water plants supplying daily-life or production water for urban centers, concentrated residential quarters, industrial complexes and parks, or craft villages; b) Inter-district or inter-provincial rivers, streams, canals and ditches which serve as water drainage axes for urban centers, concentrated residential quarters, and industrial complexes and parks; c) Rivers, streams, canals and ditches which function to supply or drain water with a view to ensuring environmental sanitation, improving or recovering polluted, degraded or depleted water sources in urban centers or residential quarters; d) Rivers, streams, canals and ditches which are closely associated with the livelihood of riverside communities. A water source protection corridor shall be established to perform the following functions: a) To protect the bank stability and prevent and combat the encroachment upon land around water sources; b) To prevent and combat activities threatening to pollute and degrade water sources; c) To protect, conserve and develop the aquatic ecological system and natural animal and plant species adjacent to water sources; d) To create space for cultural, sports, entertainment and recreation activities, preserving and developing the historical, cultural, tourist and belief values related to water sources. The water source protection corridor's functions defined shall be determined for each section of the corridor according to water source protection requirements. The water source protection corridor's functions shall be expressed in the list of water sources under this Decree.