The Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism reported on its work on Monday.

The ministry had declared 2011 a “year of water,” and it implemented 37 projects, including the Orkhon Govi, Taishir Altai, and Tuul Ulaanbaatar projects. It has also submitted a draft law on water to Parliament.

Ministry officials noted that water source protection projects have been implemented in recent years because drinking water sources have been damaged due to legitimate and illegal mining operations. They said the ministry has worked to protect 150 drinking water resources and is planning to protect 300 more in 2012.

Aimags where mining operations have affected waster supplies include Gobi-Altai aimag, which reported in 2010 that children up to nine years old were getting unhealthy water due to a water shortage. The ministry is planning to construct water treatment facilities in aimags facing water shortages.

The ministry reported that it counted 6,095 rivers, 3,126 lakes, and 8,471 springs in 2011. The census is aimed at protecting water resources in danger of drying up.

Nature, Environment and Tourism Minister L.Gansukh said the ministry has cooperated with the Ministries of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry and of Road, Transportation and Urban Development. Also, 14 NGOs and 14 state-owned and 668 private organizations cooperated to implement water projects. MNT 40 billion from the state budget and MNT 100 billion from NGOs have been spent to protect water sources and related works, added the minister.

L.Gansukh stated that the ministry is beginning to take measures to hold accountable mining companies that pollute. It’s estimated that MNT 500 billion in environmental damage has been caused by these polluters. The draft law on water would increase by five to eight times the monetary penalties imposed on polluters.