Members of the regional council will ask the Cabinet of Ministers to return the Southern Bug River Basin Authority to the Mykolaiv region

Southern Bug. Illustrative photo: Travel in style

Members of the Mykolaiv Regional Council are being asked to submit several appeals to the Cabinet of Ministers regarding water use. In particular, to reinstate the Southern Bug River Basin Authority in the region. It is currently based in Vinnytsia. However, councillors believe it would be more appropriate to manage the river’s resources from within Mykolaiv region itself.

This issue was discussed at a meeting of the Mykolaiv Regional Council’s Committee on Regional Development, Planning, Budget, Finance and Investment on 3 April, NikVesti reports.

Oleksandr Malikin, Deputy Head of the Regional Water Resources Office in Mykolaiv region, explained that the State Agency currently comprises two territorial units: the regional water resources office, such as the one in Mykolaiv Oblast, and the basin management authority. The latter operated in Mykolaiv until 2018. However, it was subsequently relocated to Vinnytsia.

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Councillors are now being urged to appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers to restore Mykolaiv Oblast’s status as the basin administration for the Southern Bug River.

«The situation is that the Southern Bug River Basin Water Resources Administration is currently based in Vinnytsia. The Ladyzhynske Reservoir, the largest on the Southern Bug, is also located there. But the reality is that Mykolaiv region effectively competes with Vinnytsia region, whilst the Southern Bug flows through the territories of Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad and Mykolaiv region. We are situated at the mouth of the river. And it is precisely the residents of Mykolaiv region, taking into account the climatic conditions, who know that our region is poor in water resources,» noted Oleksandr Malikin.

He added that a water intake facility began operating in the region last year to supply Mykolaiv from the Southern Bug. Water demand is growing, so it is necessary to regulate the water flow and manage water resources within the region itself.

In particular, the Mykolaiv region has been included in the State Target Programme for Water Supply to Areas Affected by Military Operations.

«As part of this programme, there is a water intake on the other side of the river, which pumps water to the water-scarce regions of the region, in particular filling seven reservoirs in the region. The water is also used for the needs of agricultural producers. In other words, water consumption in the region is increasing,» added Oleksandr Malikin.

Tahir Sadridinov also believed that there is a need to manage the resources of the Southern Bug in the Mykolaiv region, as the region is prone to drought and there are requirements for the nuclear power plant.

«Management at the end — at the point where fresh water flows into the Black Sea — will be better, because it allows us to narrow the outlet for fresh water in the future. Fresh water will be a problem. Global warming is happening. Therefore, regulation must take place at the end, not at the start, because we are the end users. Plus, Mykolaiv has joined us. Plus, half of the Kherson region is missing (occupied, — note) — we need to help. Plus irrigation. If we do not regulate the estuary, the salt water will reach almost as far as Voznesensk. We will soon be drinking this water. And that is also bad... This is an issue for Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv and Ukraine. This fresh water will be used throughout Ukraine. Our task is to fill all the reservoirs to the maximum,» the councillor explained.

The committee chair, Vitalii Homerskyi, asked whether things might get worse if the Regional Water Resources Office in Mykolaiv Oblast were to be converted into a basin management authority, as this would raise staffing issues. Oleksandr Malikin assured him that there would be no problems, especially as the specialists would remain in place: only the management functions would change.

Another draft appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers concerned the development of design and cost estimate documentation for the dredging of the Mertvovod River in the Voznesensk district. They are requesting funds from the state budget.

«This has been an issue for a long time. The idea is to appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers to urge the State Agency for Water Resources to act. There is a flood protection programme. Funds should be allocated within it — approximately 2 million hryvnias — to develop the design and cost estimate documentation. 9 km of the river needs to be cleared. There is flooding, silting and overgrowth. It is an environmental and social problem,» explained Oleksandr Malikin, outlining the need to clear the river.

The draft appeal also states that clearing the Mertvovod riverbed will help protect 420 households in Taborivka, Voronivka and Voznesensk, as well as around 2,500 hectares of agricultural land, from flooding.

Deputies supported both draft appeals to the Cabinet of Ministers. They are now to be considered at a session of the Mykolaiv Regional Council.

It should be noted that the Regional Council will also be asked to appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the launch of a pilot project in the Mykolaiv region to study groundwater and create a map of it. Due to well drilling and the arid climate, the condition of the groundwater is unknown.