1.8 million TL fine for İzmir Metropolitan Municipality

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change announced that a fine of 1 million 858 thousand Turkish Liras has been imposed on the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality due to pollution and fish deaths in the Gulf of İzmir, and that a criminal complaint has been filed with the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against those responsible.

The statement from the Ministry recalled that an investigation was launched following the pollution and fish deaths in the Gulf of İzmir, and that expert teams affiliated with the Ministry along with a mobile water and wastewater laboratory were dispatched to the region.

The statement noted that samples were taken from the streams flowing into the Gulf and from the outlets of wastewater treatment plants. It was reported that, as a result of the analyses, it was determined that the Çiğli Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Southwest Wastewater Treatment Plant, both affiliated with the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality's İZSU General Directorate, were discharging polluted water into the Gulf of İzmir "above the standards specified in environmental legislation."

The statement provided the information that "An administrative fine of 1 million 858 thousand 610 Turkish Liras was imposed on the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality's İZSU General Directorate within the scope of the Environmental Law No. 2872. Additionally, a criminal complaint was filed with the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against those responsible."

On the other hand, it was noted that yesterday, the color of the seawater in the Gulf of İzmir turned green and brown, and that a large number of dead fish were seen surfacing near the Aksoy neighborhood of the Karşıyaka district.

News Source: AA