Forest owners in MV feel excessively asked to pay for the maintenance of water bodies. Water and soil associations and communities blame each other – the country wants to remedy the situation.
Schwerin (dpa / mv) – According to those affected, fees for the maintenance of water bodies are distributed unfairly. The state government wants to counteract this with changes in the law. Corresponding amendments are planned for this legislative period, explained a spokeswoman for the Schwerin Ministry of the Environment when asked by the German Press Agency. A reference draft is ready.
Private forest owners in the country had complained that they were being asked to pay for draining water from their forests and that they were being charged the same as farmers or owners of sealed areas. It is about fees for the water and soil associations (WBV). The WBV in the state are responsible for the maintenance of smaller watercourses and the maintenance of dykes and dams, for example.
The WBV state association affirms that forests have been drained for centuries in order to be able to use them. “We also have to think about possible heavy rain events, which should become more frequent in the future. Then the drainage of the forest must also work,” says association chairman Udo Heinzelmann.
In terms of financing, the association refers to the municipalities. One knows about the importance of the forest for the water cycle and therefore calculates a significant deduction. Owners of built-up areas would therefore actually have to pay significantly more. However, this differentiation would be lost: the WBV would collect the amounts from the municipalities and the municipalities would in turn pass these on to the owners. “For reasons of simplification, however, many municipalities do without a staggering.”
The city and community day in MV presents it somewhat differently. The WBV explained to the communities how the contribution is calculated, but only sent collective notifications, says Arp Fittschen. The municipalities would have to pay the specific allocation to individual property owners. “That is indeed a problem.” There are communities that do not differentiate down to the last detail when it comes to the levy. “Because they simply don’t have the manpower.”
It has long been demanded that the WBV, together with the waste water associations, take responsibility. According to Fittschen, they have both the data and the staff. With a view to possible changes in the law, Fittschen is skeptical: “I’m making a bet: there won’t be any amendments in this legislative period either.” Even if this is urgently needed.
