legal rights to river and streams

sjh · #1 02-05-2003, 05:03 PM

How are water rights handled in the DR?

In the theoretical case of a water way passing through a property, does the water belong to the property owner?

What about mineral rights? fish or shrimp?

Can I sell these rights?

can I dam the waterway or divert it to agriculture?

Are these rights and restrictions limited based on the size of the waterway?

thanks
Stephen

Hillbilly · #2 02-05-2003, 08:22 PM

All the water is controlled by Indrhi-Instituto Dominicano de Recursos Hidraulicos, a large and powerful government bureaucracy headed by Silvio Carrasco a very close friend of Hippo's.
Anything you do with that water will in some manner involve them.To answer your questions quickly so you don't suffer:
No; No, Yes; No; No!!!; No.

HB

Fabio J. Guzman · #3 02-09-2003, 11:59 AM

All rivers, streams and subterranean water sources belong to the State. Usage by individuals and corporations is regulated by the Instituto Dominicano de Recursos Hidráulicos (INDRI).

Applicable laws are:

Law 5852 of 1962 (Ley sobre Dominio de Aguas Terrestres y Distribución de Aguas Públicas).

Law 2889 of 1969 (Ley sobre Control de la Explotación y Conservación de Aguas Subterráneas).

There is presently a bill in Congress which, if passed, will establish a more liberal system. The bill was drafted by Esther Aristy, an attorney in our firm.(http://www.drlawyer.com/txt/attorneys/esther.html)