'Ay Lav Yu' movie becomes reality

With Hatay becoming a metropolitan municipality in 2014, the Büyükdere neighborhood, which remained within the borders of the Arsuz district, was practically forgotten as it was attached to a different district than its surrounding neighborhoods, continuing to remain a neighborhood of İskenderun. In the neighborhood, which is reminiscent of the village of Tinne in the movie "Ay Lav Yu," the uncertainty has persisted for 10 years.

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Hatay, an economic and agricultural hub of the Mediterranean, became a metropolitan municipality with a law enacted in 2014. In Hatay, one of Turkey's growing cities with a rapidly increasing population, the map was redrawn and villages were granted neighborhood status.

In the city, where major changes occurred with the regulations, Büyükdere Neighborhood was practically forgotten. Remaining within the borders of the Arsuz district, while its surrounding neighborhoods are attached to Arsuz, Büyükdere Neighborhood continues to be a district of İskenderun.

Looking at the map, Büyükdere Neighborhood, which causes confusion, is located 15 kilometers from the İskenderun district and 30 kilometers from the Arsuz district. Thought to have been overlooked during the mapping process, much like in the movie "Ay Lav Yu," Büyükdere Neighborhood finally found relief regarding receiving services following the March 31 Local Elections, and the citizens living in the neighborhood expressed their gratitude to İskenderun Mayor Mehmet Dönmez for not forgetting them.

"WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE TROUBLES OF HATAY BECOMING A METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS"

Büyükdere Neighborhood Headman (Muhtar) Necati Batman stated that they were the ones who experienced the troubles of Hatay becoming a metropolitan municipality, saying, "We don't know the details of the situation very well, but when Hatay was going to become a metropolitan municipality, since ours was a village station, it turned into a neighborhood after a while and we thought it was forgotten.

We are a neighborhood attached to the İskenderun district within the borders of the Arsuz district. We thought we were forgotten until the March 31, 2024 elections, but after İskenderun Mayor Mehmet Dönmez won in the March 31, 2024 elections, we realized we were not forgotten.

Thank God, the municipality is supporting us with all its equipment, with everything it has. We have 30 years of being forgotten, but we have experienced the troubles of Hatay becoming a metropolitan municipality for the last 10 years since 2014," he said.

"OUR LEFT, OUR RIGHT IS ARSUZ BUT WE ARE ATTACHED TO İSKENDERUN"

Stating that the surrounding neighborhoods are attached to Arsuz while their own neighborhood is attached to İskenderun, Headman Batman said, "Let's put it this way: one kilometer to our right is Arsuz, one kilometer to our left is Arsuz, 500 meters behind us is Arsuz again; we are a neighborhood attached to İskenderun, 12 kilometers away from the center of İskenderun. A 12-kilometer corridor next to us is attached to Arsuz, our left is a 30-kilometer corridor, entirely attached to Arsuz. We are actually a paradise cove, let me put it that way. Yes, it is actually the forgotten village, or we can call it Tinne," he expressed.

News Source: İHA