AKP prepares new legislative proposal for Parliament: Consists of 30 articles

The past week in the TBMM was marked by the intensity of committee work. The deputies' workload will continue without slowing down this week as well. In particular, the articles of the legislative proposal regarding the planned amendments to the National Parks Law and some accompanying laws are continuing to be discussed. The proposal, five articles of which were accepted last week and which contains a total of 30 articles, includes innovations that will reshape the nature conservation regime.

It is planned to grant the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks expanded inspection authority to protect the country's wetlands and ecological balance. Not only forest protection officers, but also hunting and nature conservation officers and field guards will take on duties in protection services and crime tracking in these areas.

REGULATIONS ON FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION IN NATIONAL PARKS

Real persons and private legal entities will be allowed to build tourist facilities or buildings in national parks and nature parks with the permission of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the opinion of the Ministry of Environment. However, the duration of the usufruct right established with this permission cannot exceed 49 years. If the success in the operation of the facility is certified by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, this period may be extended up to 99 years.

PRICING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS

While public interest is kept at the forefront, paid permits may also be applied to infrastructure and transportation projects related to national parks. On the other hand, no fee will be charged for certain service facilities built specifically for fully protected areas.

PENALTIES WILL INCREASE WITH NEW REGULATIONS

In cases where it is determined that the natural structure and ecosystem of national parks have been damaged; serious penalties are envisaged for real or legal persons who destroy nature, disrupt the ecosystem balance, or have negative effects on fauna and flora. Those who establish unauthorized structures and facilities, damage the natural cover, or engage in illegal settlement may face imprisonment from one to three years and a judicial fine of up to 5 thousand days, depending on the nature of the crime.

PENALTIES FOR ENTRY TO NATIONAL PARKS AND HUNTING

Entrance fees to national parks will be determined by the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks. Visitors who enter illegally will have to pay an administrative fine of 14 times the entrance fee.

In addition, the fines applied to those who hunt illegally in protected hunting grounds are being increased to much higher levels than their current levels. In violations in areas prohibited by the Central Hunting Commission, the fine may rise from 200 liras to 10 thousand liras. In the violation of hunting bans with special status, the fine may climb up to 15 thousand liras.

The government wing is about to complete the preparations for a new legislative proposal of approximately 30 articles that will be brought to the Parliament's agenda this week. One of the prominent articles of this proposal is aimed at resolving the title deed confusion in former forest areas and lands belonging to the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) that have lost their intended use.

GOAL OF RESOLVING TITLE DEED PROBLEMS

It is aimed to resolve title deed problems in lands that have been opened for settlement in practice but are still recorded as forests or areas allocated to DSİ in official records. Thus, it is aimed both to eliminate the grievances of citizens and to clarify land use in public administration.

WEEK OF COMMITTEE AND GROUP MEETINGS

On Wednesday, the Sub-Committee on Turks Abroad and Related Communities under the Foreign Affairs Committee will meet. In this session, the committee will listen to Deputy Minister of National Education Celile Eren Ökten and receive information about the ministry's educational activities abroad.

The AKP and other political parties will hold their weekly group meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday to determine their roadmap regarding the parliamentary agenda. The AKP Group meeting, which is held every two weeks, will also be held this week with the participation of party members.

News Source: 12punto