Jump alleged at the Ilısu starting line
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Şafak Timur
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 03, 2008 00:00
ISTANBUL - Construction of the Ilısu Dam in southeastern Anatolia on the Tigris River has started, according to one environmental association fighting to stop the project that says Turkey is ignoring the international criteria set forth in exchange for export credits.
In two photographs, the Doğa Derneği association has obtained, a heavy construction vehicle can be seen together with a concrete wall and conduits in the riverbed in the Ilısu region, 80 kilometers from the Hasankeyf district in the province of Batman. "In August there was nothing along the river in the area," said Erkut Ertürk, campaign coordinator for Doğa Derneği, adding that the photographs were taken Nov. 24.
However, Peter Gumpinger, from Österreichische Kontrollbank, an Austrian export credit agency preparing to provide export credits for the project if it fulfills the relevant criteria, talking to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, said the concrete wall does not belong to the dam, but is a bridge to cross the river. "Before, there used to be a ferry , this bridge is being built as a substitute for the ferry," he said.
An official from State Waterworks Authority, or DSİ, said the concrete wall is a temporary bridge for construction vehicles to use to cross to the other side of the river and that it is to speed up construction of facilities around the dam, such as residences and roads. The wall will be removed when dam construction starts, he said.
However, this information is contradictory to a construction engineer expert’s views. Declining to give his name, he examined the photos and said the concrete structure in the photos is not a bridge, but looks like part of a dam. Pointing to the conduits, the engineer said they might be used to release or prevent water flow.
Turkey needs to prove it can fulfill more than 150 criteria, including measures to protect social and environmental life in the area, for the project to receive export credits from Austria, Germany and Switzerland’s export credit institutions.
These three countries sent a warning letter in October advising Turkey to fulfill the necessary criteria before they would release the credits. It is expected that in the second week of December these European countries will indicate whether the credits for the project will be withdrawn or not.
The dam project, which has been on the agenda for several governments, is heavily criticized by environmentalists, who say the ancient city of Hasankeyf will be flooded. The Justice and Development Party, or AKP, government rejects allegations the dam will harm the historical heritage of the area or the environment, and that historical remains will be moved to a new residential area, together with local residents.
However, Peter Gumpinger, from Österreichische Kontrollbank, an Austrian export credit agency preparing to provide export credits for the project if it fulfills the relevant criteria, talking to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, said the concrete wall does not belong to the dam, but is a bridge to cross the river. "Before, there used to be a ferry , this bridge is being built as a substitute for the ferry," he said.
An official from State Waterworks Authority, or DSİ, said the concrete wall is a temporary bridge for construction vehicles to use to cross to the other side of the river and that it is to speed up construction of facilities around the dam, such as residences and roads. The wall will be removed when dam construction starts, he said.
However, this information is contradictory to a construction engineer expert’s views. Declining to give his name, he examined the photos and said the concrete structure in the photos is not a bridge, but looks like part of a dam. Pointing to the conduits, the engineer said they might be used to release or prevent water flow.
Turkey needs to prove it can fulfill more than 150 criteria, including measures to protect social and environmental life in the area, for the project to receive export credits from Austria, Germany and Switzerland’s export credit institutions.
These three countries sent a warning letter in October advising Turkey to fulfill the necessary criteria before they would release the credits. It is expected that in the second week of December these European countries will indicate whether the credits for the project will be withdrawn or not.
The dam project, which has been on the agenda for several governments, is heavily criticized by environmentalists, who say the ancient city of Hasankeyf will be flooded. The Justice and Development Party, or AKP, government rejects allegations the dam will harm the historical heritage of the area or the environment, and that historical remains will be moved to a new residential area, together with local residents.