Judicial brake on Kanal Istanbul project: Cancellation decision issued

The court stated that the decision to designate a reserve building area was made without the necessary scientific and technical analyses and that this decision deviated from the purpose of urban transformation, forming a basis for new settlement projects that threaten Istanbul's natural areas. It was noted that the regions declared as reserve building areas include natural areas that must be protected, such as Istanbul's forests, agricultural lands, and water basins. The ruling pointed out that these declarations were made without the preparation of a detailed examination and report.

ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN RENDERED INVALID

The 1/100,000 scale environmental plan amendment, which was based on the reserve area decision, was also cancelled. The court emphasized that this plan was contrary to urban planning principles and public interest. It was stated that institutional opinions were missing during the planning process, detailed infrastructure reports were not prepared, and the existing environmental plan was fundamentally altered.

ALL PLANS RENDERED BASELESS

The court stated that with the cancellation of the reserve area decision, all other plans related to Kanal Istanbul have become devoid of legal basis. The ruling requires a complete review of all planning and implementation processes of the project.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

The court decision shows that the legal and environmental foundations of the Kanal Istanbul project have weakened. The ruling reveals that the project is not in accordance with the principle of public interest due to its environmental impacts, infrastructure problems, and the damage it could cause to natural resources.

COULD ALSO AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF OTHER CASES

This decision regarding the Kanal Istanbul project could also affect the outcome of other cases related to the project. A cancellation decision is also expected in another case filed by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, in which the expert report was in favor of the plaintiff. This ruling could have a critical impact on the future of the Kanal Istanbul project and bring further legal and environmental oversight to the agenda.

News Source: 12punto