Ukraine plans to significantly increase penalties for water pollution
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a bill that provides for a significant increase in fines for violations of water legislation.
This was reported on the Ministry of Economy’s website.
The new regulations are aimed at protecting rivers and lakes, as current penalties have long been out of step with economic realities and fail to deter offenders.
The main change is a revision of the amount of administrative penalties, which are currently merely symbolic.
While previously the fine for pollution or violations of water use regulations was only 85–136 hryvnias, after the law is adopted, the amounts will increase tenfold.
Under the proposed changes, fines for unlawful actions involving water resources will range from 3,400 to 5,100 hryvnias. This applies to unauthorized water use, littering of water bodies, and failure to comply with water resource accounting regulations.
Individuals and businesses that violate the terms of permits for special water use will also face penalties.
Additionally, penalties will be imposed for damaging riverbeds and conducting prohibited economic activities in water protection zones.
The Ministry of Economy emphasized that the current low fines do not create incentives for the rational use of resources. Lawmakers expect that the new fines will compel business owners to take environmental safety more seriously.
For comparison, the authors of the initiative cited the experience of European countries, where environmental fines are significantly stricter.
For example, in Croatia, penalties for such violations reach 66,800 hryvnias, and in Slovenia, the fine can amount to up to 20,000 euros.
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