In a ceremony attended by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, 25 trailer tractors and two floating crawler (amphibious) excavators were added to the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) machinery fleet. Known as “Green Ants,” DSİ construction equipment plays a critical role in combating water-related disasters and forest fires that have been exacerbated by global warming and climate change. These machines, which operate 7/24 in all natural disasters from floods to fires, landslides to earthquakes, work non-stop to prevent, reduce and heal disaster damage.
Strengthening Machine Park in Fighting Disasters
Strengthening the DSI machine park is of great importance in combating disasters. In this context, significant reinforcement was made to increase the speed and movement capacity of green ants. While 25 trailer tractors that will enable the rapid transfer of construction equipment to disaster areas were added to the DSI inventory, the number of trailer tractors increased to 213 with this addition. In addition, two floating crawler (amphibious) excavators, which will enter the DSI inventory for the first time, were also included in the green ant army.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, DSİ General Manager Mehmet Akif Balta, officials, personnel of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and DSİ General Directorate and members of the press attended the ceremony held at the DSİ General Directorate Etlik Facilities.
Minister Yumaklı: “A Great Investment in DSI Machinery Park”
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı drew attention to the fact that water can turn into one of the most devastating disasters in the world when it is not controlled. He noted that 1975 citizens have lost their lives in the floods that have occurred in our country since 900, 990 thousand hectares of land have been affected and the economic loss is around 4 billion dollars.
Minister Yumaklı, who stated that the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works is carrying out intensive work to prevent these losses, emphasized that DSI has put a total of 68 facilities into operation, 11 of which are storage facilities for flood purposes, within the scope of structural measures. Minister Yumaklı, who stated that flood control has been provided in an area of approximately 64 million acres with these facilities, conveyed that early intervention in floods has been achieved with 20 Flood Early Warning Systems nationwide and that flood damages have been reduced with 533 warnings in 2024.
Minister Yumaklı said that DSI is constantly developing and renewing its machinery fleet by following technological developments. Minister Yumaklı stated that the vehicles received today are also parts of a very important whole that will be added to the DSI machinery fleet and said, “Our sole purpose is to protect this strong characteristic of the State Hydraulic Works and to ensure that it is with the citizens when they need it in all matters from drinking water to irrigation water, from dams to flood facilities.”
Minister Yumaklı, who stated that a total of 2021 construction machines are planned to be added to the machinery park between 2025-700 in order to strengthen the DSI machinery park, noted that 570 construction machines have been added to the DSI inventory so far and the remaining 130 dozers will be delivered in 2025. In addition, Minister Yumaklı, who stated that they plan to purchase 2024 trailer tractors and transport trailers in 2025 and 100, said that following this purchase, which was made for a total cost of approximately 1 billion 700 million, 75 vehicles were delivered in 2024 and the remaining 25 trailer tractors were delivered at a ceremony held today.
Minister Yumaklı also mentioned the two floating crawler (amphibious) excavators that were added to the DSI machinery fleet for the first time in his speech, and noted that these vehicles can operate both on land and in water, and that in this respect, they increase the mobility of the DSI machinery power. Minister Yumaklı, who stated that these special construction machines will be used for purposes such as deepening waterways and river deltas; maintenance and cleaning of rivers, lakes, dams, coastlines, and dredging, wished all the vehicles and equipment added to the DSI machinery fleet to be beneficial.
DSI General Manager Balta: “Every 1 Unit of Investment Prevents 7 Units of Damage”
Speaking at the ceremony, DSI General Manager Mehmet Akif Balta said that DSI has implemented irrigation investments that are the guarantee of clean energy production and food safety, primarily drinking and utility water supply, and has fulfilled its duty of protecting people from the harms of water that ensures life and property safety. Stating that they have taken the necessary steps to rejuvenate the DSI machine park, which carries out these vital activities, General Manager Balta gave the information that the number of trailer tractors in the inventory has increased to 213 with the vehicles received today.
Noting that DSI construction equipment plays an important role especially in disaster periods, General Manager Balta drew attention to the fact that these periods, together with global warming and climate change, are at the forefront of the agenda in our country as well as all over the world. Expressing that sudden and excessive rainfalls, fires, strong winds and storms frequently test both the world and our country, General Manager Balta noted that numerous floods have occurred throughout the year throughout our country as a result of the irregularity in the precipitation regime in recent years due to global climate change. Noting that these floods can be more severe compared to previous years and can occur in more than one place at the same time, General Manager Balta emphasized that loss of life and significant public damage can occur due to floods.
Stating that the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works is extremely strong in the field in combating flood disasters, General Director Balta conveyed that DSI eliminated the damages caused by the mechanized work carried out during and after the flood. Also touching on the importance of the work carried out before the flood, General Director Balta said, For every 1 unit of investment made by DSI in preventing natural disasters, 7 units of damage is prevented in the field. shared his knowledge.
Providing information about the works carried out by DSI construction machinery in 2024, General Manager Balta stated that machine works were carried out in all 81 provinces of our country and that 81 collective machine works affecting 802 districts and 5 towns within 209 provinces and 199 individual works were carried out. Stating that the cost of these works to the state was 1.356 billion liras, General Manager Balta noted that thanks to green ants, these works cost 8 billion liras and 3 billion liras were saved.
Stating that DSI is ready to support citizens in all disasters, General Manager Balta stated that the 5 work machines and experienced operators in the DSI machine park started to serve citizens from the very first moment and did their part in healing the wounds.
