Mansur Yavaş speaks out on 'water shortage': 'Not a drop from the Gerede Project is reaching the dam you said would last until 2050'

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) Mayor Mansur Yavaş made assessments regarding the water problem in the capital. Stating that occupancy rates in the dams have dropped significantly, Yavaş drew attention to the effects of the climate crisis on Ankara.

Yavaş said, "On one hand, a city approaching 6 million people, and on the other, less water arriving each year... The images of the dams are a photograph of this reality. Last year, there was water in all of these spots. This picture is the share of the climate crisis falling on Ankara. Our duty is not to hide this reality, but to keep Ankara standing despite it."

Recalling his previous warnings regarding the city's current water reserves, Yavaş said, "I said Ankara has 200 days of water left. 200 days pass in the blink of an eye. We have saved a significant amount during this process."

Reacting to the accusations made by the government regarding the water crisis, Yavaş said:

"From time to time, politicians make nonsensical statements, such as claiming that existing water is not being delivered to the taps. Currently, the water that will come to the city from the dams is below the intake structure. When asked why water cannot be provided, there is a famous anecdote about gunpowder.

A commander who came to the soldiers asked, 'Tell me, why did you lose the war?'

The soldier said, 'The gunpowder ran out.' The commander replied, 'No need to list the rest.'

There is no water! Not a drop from the Gerede Project is reaching the dam you said would last until 2050. There is no water, it is that simple. As an administrator, we are taking precautions and preparing projects on how to provide water to the city without using this as an excuse."

REACTION TO ANADOLU AGENCY

Touching upon the perceptions created through the media, Yavaş argued that some news reports do not reflect the truth. Showing the news reports produced by Anadolu Agency, Yavaş said:

"Anadolu Agency, which reports that drought has hit Turkey, draws an interesting picture when it comes to Ankara. It says, 'The city is left without water, there is no water in the homes.'

Anadolu Agency reports that 'water resources cannot be sufficiently replenished due to the lack of snow.'

In other words, the drought and the climate crisis are obvious. They take their cameras and travel from neighborhood to neighborhood, creating a perception as if life in the city has stopped."

"THE GOAL IS TO SAY 'CHP MUNICIPALITIES LEFT THE CITY WITHOUT WATER'"

Emphasizing that many municipalities across Turkey are facing similar problems, Yavaş noted that the situation is being turned into political material:

"There is a water shortage in all municipalities. The goal is this: to say 'CHP municipalities left the city without water'... Disinformation policies regarding this continue."

Mansur Yavaş, referring to former ABB Mayor Melih Gökçek, said, "The politician who shouts on television and posts tweets uses 37 tons of water a month at his home. He is probably watering his garden. He hasn't saved any water at all. We will disclose it if necessary."