The General Directorate of İSKİ and İGDAŞ, affiliated with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), are following the relevant legal processes within the scope of the zoning plans that are against the legislation carried out on the Canal Istanbul route. In this context, it has become necessary to inform the public about some practices.
CONSTRUCTION CONTRARY TO THE LEGISLATION AND ITS EFFECTS ON WATER BASINS
Sazlıdere Dam, one of the most important drinking water sources of Istanbul, and the surrounding drinking water basins are under the threat of intensive construction. Large-scale housing projects carried out in Baklalı, Boyalık, Dursunköy and Sazlıbosna neighborhoods of Arnavutköy district are in violation of the İSKİ Drinking Water Basins Regulation, and this issue has been brought to the attention of the relevant judicial authorities.
In Arnavutköy Sazlıbosna District, 24 tenders were held for projects consisting of a total of 150 houses and 121 shops. However, the infrastructure and zoning plans related to these projects need to be re-evaluated in terms of their impact on water resources and the ecological balance of Istanbul.
As a result of the technical examinations carried out by İSKİ, the projects planned in the region:
Exceeds permitted limits in terms of population density,
· Stream beds are opened to construction,
· It has been determined that the necessary measures have not been taken to protect the treatment facilities and water basins. For these reasons, necessary measures have been taken within the framework of legal authorities in order to prevent the water security of Istanbul from being endangered.
DECISIONS REGARDING WATER AND WASTEWATER SUBSCRIPTIONS
İSKİ has announced to the public that water and wastewater services will not be provided to projects that violate the relevant legislation for the protection of water basins and the sustainable management of drinking water resources.
In this context:
Water subscriptions to construction sites have been cancelled.
Existing buildings do not have water and wastewater subscriptions.
New applications for drinking water, rainwater and wastewater connections were rejected.
These decisions were taken with the aim of protecting Istanbul's water resources and ensuring sustainable water management, and will continue to be implemented within the scope of the relevant legislation.
JUDICIAL DECISIONS AND PLANNING CONTRARY TO THE LEGISLATION
The Istanbul 6th Administrative Court annulled the zoning plans of the Emlak Konut-THY project located in the Dursunköy Neighborhood on July 8, 2024. In addition, the Istanbul 5th Administrative Court annulled the decisions regarding the Reserve Area declaration and the 1/100.000 scale Environmental Plan amendment regarding the Canal Istanbul Project, finding them unlawful. The court determined that the projects lacked scientific and technical basis. The lawsuits filed regarding the projects in the Baklalı and Boyalık neighborhoods are ongoing. The court decisions stated that the necessary measures should be taken against constructions that threaten water basins.
In this context, IMM and its affiliated organizations act in line with the current legal legislation and meticulously follow the legal processes for the protection of water basins.
EVALUATIONS ON NATURAL GAS CONNECTIONS
Istanbul Gas Distribution Industry and Trade Inc. (İGDAŞ) has evaluated some new natural gas demands on the Canal Istanbul route and made its decisions within the framework of legal processes.
In this context:
· The request for a natural gas connection to the residences built for the Emlak Konut GYO Yenişehir Evleri Project in Dursunköy Neighborhood was rejected due to the cancellation of the zoning plan.
CONCLUSION AND CALL TO PUBLIC
As the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and its affiliated organizations, we will continue to take the necessary steps within the framework of the current legislation, in line with our responsibility to protect Istanbul's water basins and natural resources.
In this process, all interested parties:
· To act in accordance with the legislation,
· To adopt a planning approach that takes into account the ecological balance and water resources,
We invite you to respect the decisions of the court.
