CHP's Bakırlıoğlu brought DSİ's opinion articles about Kanal Istanbul to the agenda in the 'Global Climate Change Commission'. “It has nothing to do with DSI, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and the Ministry of Transport are interested,” said Eroglu, the head of the commission.
Veysel Eroğlu, Chairman of the Parliamentary Global Climate Change Research Commission and former Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs, left unanswered the questions of CHP Manisa Deputy Ahmet Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu, who expressed his concerns about the Kanal Istanbul project at the commission meeting.
According to the news of Meral Danyıldız from BirGün; “At the commission meeting where the impact of the climate crisis on water resources was discussed, Bakırlıoğlu drew attention to the fact that two opinion letters of the State Hydraulic Works (DSI) on Kanal Istanbul were not included in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports. Eroglu said, “In these opinion articles, DSI's concerns about Kanal Istanbul are expressed, and the possible negative effects of Istanbul on underground and surface waters and resources are mentioned. It is said that the water collection basin of about 20 square kilometers in the east of Terkos Lake is disabled and this means a loss of approximately 18 million cubic meters of water ”.
'The Issue Is Not Related to DSI'
Commission President Veysel Eroğlu claimed that the issue of Kanal Istanbul is not the agenda of the Global Climate Change Commission. Eroglu said, “If you want, submit a motion to the Parliament and the commission should be opened. Also, it has nothing to do with DSI, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and the Ministry of Transport are interested ”.
Upon Bakırlıoğlu's statement, “But we always have this discussion with you”, Eroğlu passed the issue by saying “Right now, look, our main topic…”. While almost all of the questions asked by CHP's Bakırlıoğlu were unanswered, the former Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs said, "Then let me know this job best if you wish, let me explain it to you in great detail." he continued his words. However, Sazlıdere Dam has 70 million cubic meters of water.
Water Resources Will Be Damaged
Speaking to BirGün, CHP Manisa Deputy Ahmet Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu said, “Channel Istanbul is the subject of this commission. Because our topic is climate change, the effects of climate changes on water resources, drought. Istanbul is also Turkey's largest metropolis. Scientists say that this channel will cause serious damage to the water resources of Istanbul, so these resources will not be sufficient for the increasing population, ”he said.
Stating that the two opinion letters written by DSI confirm this determination, Bakırlıoğlu said, “It was mentioned in both reports of DSI that were under the floor; DSI has concerns that the Terkos Lake may be salted, the Sazlıdere Dam will disappear completely and the treatise line will disappear. Unfortunately, DSI's opinion letters on this issue were not included in the EIA report. At best 70 million cubic meters of water and at best 427 million cubic meters of water is lost in Istanbul. We expressed this. In this commission, we endeavor to express the contradictions about Kanal Istanbul every week. However, the AKP and MHP representatives, especially the Chairman of the Commission, persistently argue that this issue is not the subject of the commission ”.
The General Manager was retired
In the opinion letters of DSI dated 2018 and 2019, it was warned that the water resources would be damaged if the Kanal Istanbul project was implemented. DSI predicted 375 million cubic meters of water loss for Terkos Lake; however, this amount was written as 30 million cubic meters in the EIA report. While the annual water loss in Sazlıdere Dam was estimated as 52 million cubic meters by DSI, this amount was recorded as 2,7 million cubic meters in the EIA report. The General Director of DSI, Mevlüt Aydın, who prepared the letter of opinion, was retired after 55 days of leave.
Be the first to comment