55 billion lira Kanal Istanbul tender while İmamoğlu is in prison: Rent-seeking companies on the field
During the period when Ekrem İmamoğlu was in prison, construction of 24,000 housing units began around the Sazlıdere Dam. Firms known for their proximity to the AKP received 28 tenders worth 55 billion liras. The tenders also include mosques, schools, and workplaces.
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Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently detained in Silivri Prison, drew attention to the large-scale construction projects initiated around the Sazlıdere Dam as part of the Kanal Istanbul project.
İmamoğlu stated, "Taking advantage of my absence, they began the construction of 24,000 housing units around the Sazlıdere Dam, one of the most important water sources on the European side." Noting that the projects carried out by TOKİ are being built in an absolute protection zone, İmamoğlu said, "They have driven bulldozers and heavy machinery right up to the water's edge."
28 TENDERS WORTH 55 BILLION, TRACKING THE RENT
Documents revealed by the Sözcü newspaper show that the total value of 28 separate tenders carried out while İmamoğlu was in prison exceeds 55 billion TL. The vast majority of these high-budget tenders went to firms close to the AKP.
THE LARGEST SHARE GOES TO İNTEK İNŞAAT
İntek İnşaat, which has previously received many tenders from TOKİ, won the highest-budget tender in the project with a contract worth 5 billion 99 million TL.
THREE SEPARATE TENDERS TO BAŞ YAPI
Baş Yapı İnşaat also took part in the project with three separate tenders totaling 4 billion 601 million TL.
PRESTİJ AND SERHAT ÖZBEK ARE ALSO ON THE LIST
Prestij İnşaat and its partners, who received a project worth 6 billion 745 million TL, signed one of the highest bids. Serhat Özbek İnşaat and its partners received work totaling 3 billion 236 million TL.
AKP-LINKED COMPANIES STAND OUT
Among the firms that won the tenders, names with direct ties to the AKP also draw attention:
Haldız İnşaat, owned by Macit Haldız, a founding provincial executive of the AKP in Kocaeli, received a tender worth 4 billion 793 million TL.
Kahraman İnşaat, the firm of former AKP municipal council member Hamdi Kahraman, took part in two separate projects worth 4 billion 470 million TL.
The company of Mehmet İkbal Ballı, who was an AKP parliamentary candidate nominee in the 2018 elections, was included in the project with a total of 4 billion 776 million TL in tenders.
All these projects will be built around the Sazlıdere Dam, one of the drinking water sources of the European side. The projects include not only housing but also 1,121 workplaces, 7 mosques, and 6 schools.