Zero spending in 2024: OGM failed to purchase necessary equipment for forest fires
It has been revealed that the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM) failed to add any new vehicles to its inventory during the January-June period of 2024.
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As the summer months continue, forest fires persist across the country.
According to a report by Mustafa Bildircin from Birgün, the OGM set 30 targets for the first half of 2024 for the purpose of “combating forest fires.” Among these targets was the procurement of firefighting aircraft and helicopters.
The administration projected a total expenditure of 500 million TL for the purchase of firefighting aircraft and helicopters. It was stated that 460 million TL of the total 500 million TL budget was allocated for small firefighting tanker aircraft. In addition to the tanker aircraft, the directorate planned to purchase helicopter water buckets worth 10 million TL. However, the directorate could not carry out the planned procurement. In the first half of 2024, not a single penny was spent on the purchase of helicopters and aircraft.
Although an attempt was made to purchase 80 first-response vehicles with a total expenditure of 171 million 880 thousand TL, by the time the first half of 2024 was completed, the OGM had not added any new vehicles to its inventory. The OGM's target of purchasing five graders and 10 trailers was also not met.