Yanukovych signs law to change width of coastal strips near water reservoirs and limit business activity on them

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed amendments to the Water and Land Codes regarding coastal strips near water reservoirs, the presidential press service has reported.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, on December 2 adopted a law specifying the size and boundaries of coastal strips near water bodies and restricting business activities within these protection zones.

The law stipulates that to protect surface waters from pollution and contamination and maintain water quality in rivers, seas, lakes, water storage pools and other water bodies, land plots will be allocated within water protection zones to develop water area protection strips.

According to the law, the width of protection strips should be 25 meters for small rivers, streams, and pools with an area of less than three hectares, 50 meters for medium-sized rivers, water storage pools and ponds with an area exceeding three hectares, and 100 meters for large rivers, water reservoirs and ponds.