Sweden extends financial support for sustainable management of Dniester river

Chisinau, 4 December /MOLDPRES/ - Sweden extends by 1.2 million dollars its financial assistance for the project, Support for Moldova’s authorities in sustainable management of Dniester river, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The amendment of financing today was signed by Ambassador of Sweden to Moldova Katarina Fried and UNDP Resident Representative in Moldova Daniela Gasparikova.   

The additional financing will be meant for backing the national authorities in further adjusting the legal framework on the management of the water resources to the EU requirements, consolidation of the capacities of monitoring the flow of water within the hydrographic district of the Dniester river. At the same time, this will support the public communication and the activities of raising the awareness as to the problems dealing with the rivers’ management and will consolidate the cooperation between the two banks of Dniester concerning diverse aspects, which hit the river’s ecosystem.      

„Moldova is surrounded by two rivers and one of them, the Dniester river, is the main provider of water in the country and therefore, it is quite important for its economic, social and environmental well-being. From the viewpoint of Sweden, it is essential that we efficiently conserve and manage our limited natural resources, in order to promote the access to a sound and clean environment for the people. We are confident that, through joint efforts for the sustainable management of the Dniester river, Moldova will get a good quality of the water, aligned with EU’s requirements,’’ Katarina Fried said.           

„The Dniester covers 70 per cent of the needs of the country’s water consumption. Thus, it is regarded as a strategic resource of surface water for the ecological and social-economic security of the country. It is essential for the communities which depend on this resource to have better access to quality water and to a sound environment. We are grateful for the partnership with Sweden, which contributes to the improvement of the environment and social conditions in the district of the Dniester river’s basin,’’ Daniela Gasparikova said.     

The Dniester Hydrographical Basin Committee will benefit, in continuation, from support for the development of its capacities. Also, decision-makers will make an inventory of the hydro-technical infrastructure. The owners of water reservoirs from the Dniester river basin will be trained to attentively manage the water bodies and to ensure the observance of the legal provisions.  

Due to the Swedish financing, decision-makers will assess the capacities of the laboratories from Moldova to carry out the analysis of the chemical substances and will identify the priorities of development and consolidation of the analytical capacities. Also, the project will contribute to the improvement of the hydrological monitoring of the Dniester river through the purchasing of two automatic stations of monitoring the water level. Also, with the support of the project, the Law of Waters from Moldova was adjusted to the European Union’s legislation.