Petition of objection for Canal Istanbul: "Our lands, our water, our future are in danger!"

Ebru CELIK

While the Kanal İstanbul and Yenişehir Reserve Area projects, which threaten the future of Istanbul , are being implemented step by step, 2.5 million square meters of land is being opened to rent.

A new tender process for a total of 1908 houses is being launched by TOKİ in Sazlıbosna within the scope of two separate projects. While it was stated that 24 thousand houses will be built in the region within the scope of the project, the protection status of Sazlıdere Dam , one of the important drinking water sources of Istanbul, was lifted and the dam was opened to construction. Construction machines entered the water basin and construction sites were established.

While the acceleration of the tender processes on the Canal Istanbul route immediately after the political operations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality drew attention, environmental and housing rights advocates came together in front of the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change in Halkalı today.

"NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS, INSUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE"

Speaking first, Environmental Engineer Çağla Aydın said, “The Kanal İstanbul and Yenişehir Reserve Areas Project threatens the ecosystem of Istanbul, water resources, agricultural areas and the right to life of the people living in this city.”

“As engineers, we are in this struggle with an approach based on science and social benefit. This is not just support; it is a requirement of our professional and ethical responsibility,” said Aydın, and continued as follows:

“The project has no scientific or technical basis. The Sazlıbosna Water Basin was removed from its protected status by a presidential decree. This decision was made without consulting any institution. The plans say that ‘environmental sustainability has been achieved’ but there is no scientific basis to support this. Neither İSKİ nor the Ministry of Agriculture have received an opinion. The plans are progressing piecemeal, the infrastructure is inadequate, and population growth is being ignored.”

Emphasizing that opening forests and agricultural lands to construction deepens the climate crisis, Aydın said, “The ecological system is a whole and this wholeness cannot be ignored. These projects threaten not only nature but also the right to shelter of the people in the region. Our being here today is not only an objection to a zoning plan but also to a holistic process that threatens the future of Istanbul.”

"WE ARE THE OWNERS OF THIS CITY"

Afterwards, Nagihan Kamçi, a member of the Şahintepe Housing Rights Assembly, read the statement and expressed her reaction by saying, “A demolition project that will destroy Istanbul’s water, air, agricultural lands and natural assets and directly affect the lives of millions of people is being imposed step by step.”

Kamchi made the following statements:

“This plan, which came to the agenda under the name of Kanal Istanbul but is essentially a construction and profiteering project, is now preparing to pour concrete in an area of ​​2.5 million square meters in Sazlıbosna under the name of Yenişehir Reserve Construction Area. We came here today to present our official objection to the 1/5000 and 1/1000 scale revision zoning plans in the Western Section. We are the owners of this city. Just as we said ‘stop’ in the past, we are shouting today: We want life, not concrete. We want justice, not profiteering.”

Kamçi listed the grounds for objection as follows:

The drinking water quality of Sazlıdere Dam has been quietly reduced. This decision threatens both water resources and Istanbul's water security.

Agricultural and pasture lands are being destroyed. This poses a major threat to food security and rural life.

Nearly 2 million new population is planned. This means a collapse in all services, from infrastructure to transportation system.

The judiciary has become politicized. Court decisions to annul are constantly being overturned by higher courts.

TOKİ's 'social housing' rhetoric is a deception. What is actually being built are luxury residences. The interests of capital, not the people, are being considered.

"THE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THIS PROJECT"

Rüya Kurtuluş from the Either Canal or Istanbul Coordination said, “A very large construction project is currently being built in Sazlıbosna, right next to the Sazlıdere Dam. The canal has not started, but the destruction of the canal, the profit of the canal, the concreting of the canal have already started, and despite court decisions, the plans are being revised in a hurry, as if it were a fire, and construction equipment is being rapidly used in a place that absolutely needs to be protected, right next to the water protection basin. We want to prevent and stop this. In fact, no one living in this region and the people of Istanbul want this project. This project is really a concrete and profiteering project, a plunder project. We will submit our objection petitions against this today at the Halkalı Environment and Urbanization Provincial Directorate additional service building.”

Kurtuluş continued his speech as follows:

“In addition, Şahintepe, Bayramtepe, İmrahor Neighborhoods are within the canal impact area and with the declaration of the canal project as a reserve construction area, displacements, seizures, forced profiteering transformation impositions are taking place here and the people of Şahintepe have been resisting and struggling against this for a long time. Today, as the Either Canal or Istanbul Coordination, we are here both to stand by them and to submit our objection petitions once again.”