A challenge from İSKİ to TOKİ... Deadline set for Sazlıdere: Coincided with the same day as the IMM operation
Housing construction projects initiated by TOKİ in the Sazlıdere Dam basin, which is located on the Kanal İstanbul route, have turned into a crisis. İSKİ has made a decision for "demolition" and has also set a deadline. If the construction site is not removed within one week, İSKİ will begin demolition.
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A critical development has occurred regarding Kanal İstanbul, which President Erdoğan introduced as a "crazy project." The Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ) has taken action regarding the housing construction projects launched by TOKİ in the Sazlıdere Dam basin, which lies on the project's route. Stating that construction is prohibited in the region, which is a drinking water basin, İSKİ has issued a demolition order.
The decision was posted at the construction site and also served through the local headman (muhtar). The deadline granted to TOKİ expires on May 25. If the construction site is not removed by this date, İSKİ teams will enter the site to carry out the demolition and will collect the costs from TOKİ.
COINCIDED WITH THE SAME DAY AS THE IMM OPERATION
Another remarkable development occurred during the days when İSKİ posted the demolition notice. On the same day, an operation was conducted against İSKİ executives as part of a "corruption" investigation launched into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM).
While İSKİ General Manager Şafak Başa was sentenced to house arrest, Deputy General Manager Begüm Çelikdelen was released after being detained. This operation was also interpreted as an "attempt to obstruct" the demolition decision taken against the construction projects.
CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES BUT HAS SLOWED DOWN
According to observations made on-site by Ali Can Polat from Sözcü newspaper, signs reading "Construction is prohibited" have been posted in the area entering the drinking water basin. However, just a few meters away from the signs, concrete mixers continue to operate.
Workers at the site stated that operations are progressing much slower than usual:
"We are not working at full capacity right now. We don't know why, but it's as if everyone is waiting for something to happen."
VILLAGERS ARE WORRIED AND REACTIVE: "WE WEREN'T EVEN ALLOWED TO BUILD A CHICKEN COOP!"
Villagers in the region reacted to the situation, reminding that they have not been granted even the smallest building permit for years. The villagers say that TOKİ has also gone into a waiting mode in the face of these developments.
DEMOLITION TENSION ESCALATES
If TOKİ does not take any step back by May 25, it is expected that İSKİ, which is responsible for protecting Istanbul's drinking water source, will enter the area and begin demolition.