Government Regulation No. 20/2006 on Irrigation.

This Regulation provides for the development and management of irrigation systems to support productivity of farm businesses for increasing the production of agriculture in the framework of ensuring the national food security and enhancing welfare of people, mainly farmers. The Regulation consists of 16 Chapters divided into 68 articles.
The development and management of irrigation systems shall be realized by efficiently improving the use of water resources including rain water, surface water and groundwater (Chapter II). Chapter III establishes irrigation man agent institutions to ensure the orderly management of irrigation networks built by the government. The authority and responsibility of the government are specified in Chapter IV. Chapters V and VI provide for the participation of farmer communities in the development and management of irrigation systems, and for the empowerment of irrigation management institutions. Chapter VII deals with local communal rights to use water and water sources for irrigation purposes. Rights to use water of existing irrigation systems for smallholder agriculture are obtained without a licence, while for new irrigation systems a licence shall be needed. Rights to manage water shall be granted for the need of exploitation in the agricultural sector and obtained by applying for a licence. The development of irrigation networks shall be realized on the basis of master plans for water resource management as provided for in Chapter VIII. The management of irrigation networks shall cover activities of operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of irrigation networks (Chapter IX). The management of irrigation assets shall be a management process for planning the maintenance and funding of irrigation systems (Chapter X). The government shall establish irrigation commissions to coordinate the management of irrigation systems (Chapter XIII). The government, provincial governments, regental/municipal governments shall supervise the development and management of irrigation systems (Chapter XIV). The remaining Chapters contain transitional and conclusion provisions.