this has been envisaged in the draft law of georgia on water resources management this would entail revision of the law on licence and permits of creating the necessary licensing regime would have implications for staffing and funding of the relevant section of the ministry of environment it is clear that georgia s river and lake basins differ in their water problems and priorities and the abstraction licences and charges would need to reflect these local factors in this context it is relevant to note that the draft law on water resources management now being considered by the georgian government includes a provision article on assessment of the status of the different river basins and the development of river basin management plans this will directly support the development of capacity for administering a licensing and charging regime