Construction draws protest
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Doğan News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 15, 2009 00:00
KEMER - Hundreds of environmentalists have protested construction work in an area that is the only camping site in Antalya’s Kemer district.
The area, located in the Beydağları Shore National Park, was allocated to a private firm for 29 years with a tender last year.
The construction work the firm began on the Kındılçeşme camping site have caused a stir among environmentalists, who traveled to the area Saturday to protest the construction. While the protestors claim the work will destroy the area, the owner of the firm doing the work says no harm will be done.
"Everybody has the right to enjoy the sea and the pine trees here," said Hediye Gündüz, chairman of the Association of Preserving Turkey’s Nature’s Antalya branch. "That is why areas like Kındılçeşme are under protection as national parks. No building should be allowed on such areas; otherwise we betray our children’s future." Gündüz also called for the environment and forestry minister’s resignation for granting the construction permit.
Firm defends plans
Hundreds of environmentalists, who traveled to Kındılçeşme on 11 busses, attended the protest, carrying banners and shouting chants in opposition to the planned construction.
However, Niyazi Gökhan, who invited reporters over to the camping site as the protests continued, said no tree would be cut down. "We made an inventory of the trees right after we took over the place in 2004," he told reporters. "We labeled each an every tree, all the trees are registered and we know their types, ages and all information about them."
According to Gökhan, the only thing done was to clean up sticks and twigs. "I promise in front of you," he said, "we will not cut down even one tree."
The plans prepared by the firm include cleaning the area for the construction of cottages. "We did not rent the land to be watchman of the toilets," said Gökhan. "We will turn Kındılçeşme into a world-renown camping site of the highest standards."
The construction work the firm began on the Kındılçeşme camping site have caused a stir among environmentalists, who traveled to the area Saturday to protest the construction. While the protestors claim the work will destroy the area, the owner of the firm doing the work says no harm will be done.
"Everybody has the right to enjoy the sea and the pine trees here," said Hediye Gündüz, chairman of the Association of Preserving Turkey’s Nature’s Antalya branch. "That is why areas like Kındılçeşme are under protection as national parks. No building should be allowed on such areas; otherwise we betray our children’s future." Gündüz also called for the environment and forestry minister’s resignation for granting the construction permit.
Firm defends plans
Hundreds of environmentalists, who traveled to Kındılçeşme on 11 busses, attended the protest, carrying banners and shouting chants in opposition to the planned construction.
However, Niyazi Gökhan, who invited reporters over to the camping site as the protests continued, said no tree would be cut down. "We made an inventory of the trees right after we took over the place in 2004," he told reporters. "We labeled each an every tree, all the trees are registered and we know their types, ages and all information about them."
According to Gökhan, the only thing done was to clean up sticks and twigs. "I promise in front of you," he said, "we will not cut down even one tree."
The plans prepared by the firm include cleaning the area for the construction of cottages. "We did not rent the land to be watchman of the toilets," said Gökhan. "We will turn Kındılçeşme into a world-renown camping site of the highest standards."