Joint Order No. 249 issued by the Minister of Industry and Construction and No. 156-HK of the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation validating the Rules for the Organization and Conduct of State Geological Study of Subsurface Resources for Groundwater.

This Joint Order issued by the Minister of Industry and Construction and the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of validates the Rules for the Organization and Conduct of State Geological Study of Subsurface Resources for Groundwater. The Rules establish the legal framework for planning, organizing, and implementing state geological investigations related to groundwater resources. The objectives of such studies include updating geological information, producing geological maps, and identifying forecasted mineral and groundwater resources.
The Rules provide that groundwater geological studies are financed from the national budget and other lawful sources and are planned by the authorized state body responsible for subsoil studies. The national geological operator is tasked with organizing and carrying out the work. Planning is based on state development priorities, hydrogeological knowledge of territories, and water resource management needs. Activities are organized through short-, medium-, and long-term plans and implemented under approved project documentation. Geological studies are conducted in stages, including preparatory, field, and office-based phases, followed by the preparation of a final geological report. The national operator is responsible for procurement procedures, contract management, technical supervision, data collection, and interpretation.
The Rules also establish monitoring, reporting, and control mechanisms. Contractors must submit progress reports, photographs, videos, and geological information for review and acceptance by the competent authority. Final reports are transferred to the national and regional geological funds and must be prepared in accordance with established national standards. They are published on the Unified Subsoil Use Portal within two months of acceptance of completed work. Oversight of the national geological operator is exercised by the authorized body for subsoil studies. The annex to the Rules contains a standard form for an object-based work plan, including project descriptions, implementation schedules, costs, contracts, and budget allocations.