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In Turkey, devÂasÂtatÂing and profÂit-motiÂvatÂed “projects” respect neiÂther comÂmon sense nor the coroÂnÂavirus… While all eyes are turned toward the panÂdemÂic, conÂcrete moves forward…
The latÂest examÂple involves Lake SalÂda in the YeĹźiloÂva disÂtrict of the TurkÂish province of BurÂdur. A parÂadise is to be destroyed in a project named – what a joke – “The Nation’s GarÂden”, covÂerÂing 300 square miles.
Lake SalÂda, known as the “TurkÂish MalÂdives” is fed from a sinÂgle source, the DĂĽden stream. In 2016 already, conÂstrucÂtion had begun of an artiÂfiÂcial pond on the DĂĽden “for flood preÂvenÂtion”. But the resÂiÂdents had protestÂed against this project that was causÂing visuÂal polÂluÂtion and threatÂened the lake’s water supÂply. A legal batÂtle ensued and the courts decidÂed to susÂpend the project and to annul the MinÂistry’s deciÂsion for which “an enviÂronÂmenÂtal impact assessÂment was not required.” NonetheÂless, while the legal proÂceÂdures were ongoÂing, the GenÂerÂal Water DirecÂtorate conÂtinÂued and comÂpletÂed the construction.
Now, despite the chalÂlenges and protests by the popÂuÂlaÂtion, the layÂerÂing in conÂcrete seems to be on the verge of becomÂing a realÂiÂty with the Nation’s GarÂden project. When we speak of layÂerÂing in conÂcrete, this is not a figÂure of speech, the conÂtainÂers are already in place, in order to pour conÂcrete into… the clear blue water.
In 1989, as a reminder, Lake SalÂda and its surÂroundÂings were declared a “1st degree natÂurÂal site”. SalÂda, a tecÂtonÂic lake covÂerÂing 44 square km and with a depth of 184 m, is the secÂond deepÂest lake in Turkey. As the phoÂtos illusÂtrate, this lake is known to be the purest and the most limpid in Turkey. Its waters rich in magÂneÂsium, lye and clay are benÂeÂfiÂcial for cerÂtain skin disÂeases such as yeast infecÂtions and acne. Bathing being allowed, the beachÂes around the lake are much appreÂciÂatÂed by the locals. The hydroÂbiÂoÂlogÂiÂcal feaÂtures proÂvidÂing the lake with all its beauÂty are directÂly relatÂed to the natÂurÂal strucÂture that surÂrounds it. It should also be notÂed that sciÂenÂtifÂic research conÂductÂed on the lake is said to reveal inforÂmaÂtion conÂcernÂing the bioÂlogÂiÂcal beginÂnings of life on earth.
The lake is surÂroundÂed by a forÂest of pines and fir trees givÂing shelÂter to parÂtridges, hares, boars, and the lake also shelÂters 110 bird species includÂing wild ducks.
On the tourist road leadÂing toward Pamukkale, SalÂda is a sumÂmer stopover for tourists who canÂnot find penÂsions there but have campÂing spaces galore.
The firm that obtained the bid launched on July 31 2019 has already installed its conÂtainÂers and white lined the buildÂing zones. As for the MinÂistry of the EnviÂronÂment and of UrbanÂism, it announced at the same time that it declared the zone a “SpeÂcialÂly proÂtectÂed zone for the environment.”
In a joint press release last year, AKP deputies for BurÂdur, Bayram Ă–zçeÂlik and Yasin UÄźur announced that the numÂber of visÂiÂtors had reached 1 milÂlion 300 thouÂsand. “In the 1000 square meter area of pubÂlic beach, there will be cafes, bufÂfets, cabÂins, washÂrooms, a mosque, an adminÂisÂtraÂtive unit, a health and resÂcue serÂvice, parkÂing spaces as well as comÂmerÂcial serÂvices. As for the locaÂtion known as Beyaz adalar (the white islands) an enclosed space of 1715 square meter will be proÂvidÂed for the visitors.”
There exists a platÂform called “Hands Off my SalÂda Lake” for indiÂvidÂuÂals and civÂil sociÂety orgaÂniÂzaÂtions fightÂing for the lake’s protection.
Its spokesperÂson, Gazi Osman Sakar speaks with deterÂmiÂnaÂtion: “Lake SalÂda is an enclosed basin. Filth can gathÂer there with no natÂurÂal means of disÂcharge. Our aim is to proÂtect the beauÂty of SalÂda. Yet, those in powÂer see everyÂthing in terms of ambiÂtions for profÂit. This is why they want to destroy SalÂda also. We will do everyÂthing in our powÂer to proÂtect this zone. I wish to specÂiÂfy that the firm in quesÂtion changed its plans after obtainÂing the bid. Even the firm itself does not know exactÂly what it will be doing over there…”
FolÂlow: #SaldaGölĂĽneÂDokunÂma TwitÂter @saldadayanisma