The demolition of unlicensed, illegal structures and additions to permitted buildings in the Bosphorus Fore-view Zone in Üsküdar Vaniköy has begun. The demolition work carried out by the teams of the Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has caused a controversy between the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) and the ministry.
HE CRITICIZED MURAT KURUM
IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu stated that although the demolition activity was on the municipality's schedule, IMM teams were not allowed into the area and the operation was carried out by the ministry. Without naming him, İmamoğlu criticized the Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, saying:
"A foreign individual acquires property, and irregular processes take place. The IMM records the minutes, but the IMM is not allowed into the place that is already on the demolition schedule. Well, the same minister, the same administration—I will explain this by rubbing it in the nation's face so they can see it. I will explain it by rubbing it in these people's faces."
REACTION TO ZONING REGULATIONS ON THE BOSPHORUS
Touching upon the zoning regulations on the Bosphorus coastline, İmamoğlu said, "An approach that grants zoning for a structure to be built as a daily facility area on the sidewalk in Üsküdar, on the shore of the Bosphorus, is struggling to prove itself. Worse yet, they are the ones who line up the police in front of us while we are demolishing those places. Now they are trying to whitewash themselves. But do you know what the bad part is... This is not a whitewashing aimed at the nation, but a whitewashing to shine in the eyes of one person. The nation will send them a tin medal; I hope they wear it around their necks. The guardian of this city is clear."
Finally, IMM Mayor İmamoğlu emphasized that they will continue to fight against the towers built in military areas overlooking the Bosphorus and parcel-based zoning regulations, stating, "Today it is the guardianship of Istanbul, tomorrow it is the guardianship of Turkey. We have a successful and good team on this issue. We have tens of millions of citizens behind us. No matter what they do, it is in vain. I watch their state with sadness because they represent the institutions of the state."
News Source: 12punto
