OREANDA-NEWS. December 27, 2013. Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov has held a telephone conference on the results of execution of the plan of law-drafting activities for 2013 at Ukimet Uyi today. In addition, Cabinet approved approaches to water resources management in Kazakhstan.

Justice Minister Berik Imashev made a report on the execution of the plan of law-drafting activities for 2013.

Having noted that the plan was performed in full the Minister said that in the current year in order to implement the President’s initiatives set in his state-of-the-nation address "Kazakhstan-2050" Strategy" there were developed 19 draft laws. 13 of 17 draft laws developed by the state bodies are aimed at further legislative provision of socio-economic modernization.

According to the minister, the deputy corps initiated 21 bills, which is almost two times more than last year. The total number of draft laws designed in 2013 was 81, which is by 70% more than last year.

The Prime Minister noted the lack of proper coordination in legislative activity, low level of forecasting and analytical work, and called for improving the quality and compliance with deadline in the drafting of legislation. In this regard, Akhmetov instructed the Ministry of Justice to provide quality and timely execution of the plan of legislative work of the Government in 2014, to strengthen the coordination of law-drafting activity of state bodies.

The heads of ministries and departments were urged to take personal control of the elimination of existing shortcomings and compliance with deadlines of introducing bills in accordance with the plan of legislative work of the Government.

The meeting also discussed the draft state program of water resources management in Kazakhstan.

Minister of Environment and Water Resources Nurlan Kapparov told about basic approaches for water resources management. He set out proposals on reduction of water scarcity, water infrastructure management in the long term through the introduction of "green" water saving technologies, modernization of irrigation systems, municipal infrastructure, drinking water purification, cleaning and sanitation of water bodies, revision of the tariff system, training of qualified personnel.

According to him, " the three major consumers of water resources - agriculture, housing and utilities sector and industry - can greatly increase the efficiency of water use."

The reduction of losses from 66 to 27 percent through the modernization of irrigation systems in the field of agriculture will allow to save 11.2 billion cubic meters of water per year. The reduction of industrial losses from 40 to 19 percent through the introduction of water recycling systems will save 900 million cubic meters a year. The reduction of losses in the communal sector from 58 to 19 percent through the modernization of infrastructure and water treatment systems will save 300 million cubic meters of water annually.

Summing up the discussion the Prime Minister said that the strategic water management program was developed in accordance with the President’s instruction. It opens good opportunities for the Government, governors, SMEs, private initiatives, investors.

At the end of the final meeting of the Government, Serik Akhmetov reminded that it was necessary to monitor issues related to the pricing of food products and daily necessities during the coming holidays.

Akhmetov instructed regional governors to "keep constant control of all essential services, including public facilities, residential estates, and heating facilities." Law enforcement authorities, the Ministry of Internal Affairs were charged with ensuring control over public safety.