Ministerial Decree No. 297 validating the Regulation on water conservation zones and riverside of big and medium rivers.

This Ministerial Decree shall be compulsory for all legal and natural persons carrying out economic activity within water conservation zones and riverside of big and medium rivers. Water conservation zone shall be considered area adjacent to the waterbody with special regime of management for the prevention of pollution, choking and exhaustion of water, disturbance of aquatic and riverside ecosystem. Big rivers shall be considered those with extension from river head to estuary of 500 kilometres and over. Medium rivers shall be considered those waterways extending from 200 to 500 kilometres. Width of riverside of big and medium rivers shall be established up to 200 metres depending upon the types of soil of the adjacent land area. The following activities shall be prohibited within the boundaries of water conservation zones: (a) application of toxic chemical pesticides; (b) location of storage facilities for chemicals, pesticides and oil; (c) location of waste disposal and waste storage facilities; and (d) excavation, mining and land reclamation. The following activities shall be prohibited within riverside: (a) ploughing; (b) camping, parking and washing of vehicles; (c) construction; (d) location of cemeteries, wells and water purifying facilities; (e) destruction, of trees, shrubbery and vegetation; and (f) location of waterworks.