The 'concrete' siege in the north of Istanbul: Agricultural lands are turning into construction sites!

Images reflected from the Hacımaşlı neighborhood in the Arnavutköy district have once again brought to the agenda how Istanbul's natural boundaries are being pushed and how agricultural lands are rapidly being concreted. The frame, signed by Ahmet Faruk Sarıkoç and shown among the most important press photos of the year, reveals the frightening dimensions of the city's rate of expansion towards the north.

AGRICULTURAL LANDS ARE GIVING WAY TO CONCRETE BLOCKS

At the focal point of the photo, while vast agricultural lands still trying to preserve their greenery and the Sazlıdere Dam, one of Istanbul's vital water resources, are located on one side; giant construction sites with hundreds of residences rising right next to them can be seen. This sharp contrast serves as the most concrete document of how fertile lands are being detached from production and turned into a "rent and construction" area.

WATER RESOURCES AND FOOD SECURITY UNDER THREAT

Experts state that this rapid urbanization in Hacımaşlı and its surroundings threatens not only nature but also the future of the city:

Concrete Pressure: Empty lands and fields are rapidly being surrendered to housing projects with planned or unplanned expansion moves.

Dam Basin at Risk: Blocks rising right next to critical water reserves such as the Sazlıdere Dam create concern about the future of basin protection zones and groundwater.

Contradiction with the Climate Crisis: Green areas, which are the most important shield in the fight against global climate change, are being lost one by one with "new city" projects.

"THE LANGUAGE OF THE PHOTO: THE END OF AN ERA"

The landscape seen in the award-winning frame shows that the neighborhoods in the north of Istanbul have now been detached from their agricultural identity. The rising cranes and concrete skeletons certify that the northern forests and agricultural basins, which are the city's windpipes, have become the new epicenter of the construction sector.

News Source: 12punto