In the midst of a heated debate, the Plenary Session of the Chamber of Deputies generally approved the initiative of President Claudia Sheinbauam to issue a General Water Lawas well as various modifications to the National Water Law, which seek to define the rules on the use of that resource in productive processes, order concessions, and ensure its availability for the entire population.
In fast track, the deputies generally endorsed, with 328 votes in favor, 131 against and 5 abstentionsthe opinion that just a few hours before they had approved in committees.
The discussion continues in particular, waiting for the session to last until dawn because 529 reservations will be discussed, of which the approval of at least 18 of them is expected.
Throughout its analysis, said initiative has undergone more than 50 modificationsmainly as a result of the demands of peasant organizations who warned that the original proposal caused serious harm to them, such as a reduction in their concessioned water volumes; ambiguities in the case of inheriting or transmitting the land-water binomial and its criminalization by traditional supply practices for livestock or plots.
All this caused farmers’ mobilizationswho from very early on surrounded the surroundings of San Lázaro with tractors as a form of pressure so that the legislators will modify, even more, the presidential initiative.
According to the opinion, these modifications seek to establish that the Mexican State will be solely responsible for regulating the use of water, outlining the actions that the authorities of the three levels of government must assume.
Likewise, the regime for transferring water rights between individuals disappears and it is determined that any water concession that is not used for authorized purposes must return to the National Water Commission (Conagua) so that it decides on a better distribution and use of that resource.
Likewise, incorporate a catalog of concepts on water responsibility to recognize the practices that concessionaires or assignees will have, while creating a National Water Registry as a tool that favors the control and transparency of the concessions and assignments regime.
The rules applicable to the determination of the payment of the guarantee fee and rules applicable to concessions that will be granted for agricultural use are established.
While it is called to strengthen the procedure to detect irregular uses of water and non-compliance with obligations, as well as the sanctions regime to inhibit this type of behavior, the above by including a catalog of water crimes. Also recognize community water systems.
