THE GOVERNMENT approved at its August 20 session the draft constitutional amendment that bans the export of water from Slovakia.
Smer plans to amend the fourth article of the constitution, which pertains to raw natural resources, with a constitutional ban that pertains only to exporting water through pipelines or tanks, not in bottles.
“The transport or transfer of water taken from groundwater resources, natural healing resources, natural resources of mineral water, geo-thermal water resources, watercourses and surface water resources via Slovakia’s borders is prohibited,” reads the proposed wording, as quoted by the SITA newswire, introduced on July 10.
The only exception to the ban is exporting water for humanitarian purposes.
The constitutional amendment came in response to the opposition’s outcry that the draft amendment to the law on water, authored by the Environment Ministry, will allow the export of water abroad, which is currently not possible. The ministry, however, claimed that there are no rules regulating the export of water at the moment, and the amendment should prevent it.
The draft constitutional amendment will now be discussed in parliament. If passed, it will come into effect on December 1.
Source: SITA
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
