Enhancing the quality and efficiency of water administrative law enforcement through institutional reform
Meng Xianghan
Abstract：Water administrative law enforcement serves as the primary means for water administrative departments and river basin management agencies to fulfill governmental functions and manage water-related affairs.As an integral part of the administrative law enforcement system,it has evolved in tandem with broader reforms in administrative law enforcement.This paper systematically reviews the reform trajectory of China's water administrative law enforcement system:from its inception(1978-1994),to a shift from dispersion to relative centralization(1995-2002),then to comprehensive enforcement(2003-2012),and finally to the reallocation of enforcement functions to administrative bodies(2013-present).Against the backdrop of comprehensive law enforcement reform,the focus of water administrative law enforcement has transitioned from expanding enforcement teams to enhancing quality and efficiency.Four major challenges in the reform process are identified,including insufficient enforcement capacity,obstacles in delegated enforcement,difficulties in certifying personnel from public institutions,and unclear delineation of responsibilities.To address these issues,this paper proposes reconstructing the water administrative law enforcement system by enhancing awareness,strengthening regulatory accountability,consolidating system-wide resources,coordinating with comprehensive law enforcement agencies,promoting cross-sector collaboration,and refining public participation mechanisms.These recommendations aim to deepen the reform of the water administrative law enforcement system,improve enforcement quality and efficiency,and ensure water security in China.
Keywords：water administrative law enforcementadministrative law enforcement reformwater administration supervisioncomprehensive administrative law enforcement
Publication Date：2024-12-12
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 68-72 )