They are going to destroy Alanya! Everyone is standing up one by one
The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change of Turkey, after the Antalya 1st Administrative Court gave a second positive decision on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the expansion of the Aytemiz Fuel Station in Yeşilöz neighborhood of Alanya, the city has risen in protest. Alanya politicians and tourism professionals stated that they would defend their rights through legal channels.
The Ministry has once again considered the decision regarding the requested EIA report for expanding the Aytemiz Dolfe Facility and has presented a positive report. The EIA report, which poses a major risk to tourism and agriculture in the Mediterranean and Alanya, will be appealed. CHP District Chairman Bülent Kandemir, IYI Party District Chairman Hilmi Er, and Cleopatra Hoteliers Association President Servet Şakiroğlu said they would protect their rights in court, pointing out that this facility puts tourism, agriculture, and nature at serious risk.
“WE DEMAND TRANSPARENCY”
IYI Party District Chairman Hilmi Er emphasized that the reasons for the decision to expand the Aytemiz Facility must be shared transparently with the public. He said, “We received the information that the EIA report for expanding the Aytemiz Dolfe Facility in Yeşilöz has been approved again by the ministry. But why was this report approved? Why was the previously canceled report re-approved? This report must be publicly explained. We don’t know how it will affect the future of Alanya. We request more transparency from the ministry and that certain topics be shared with the Alanya public. We support decisions that will benefit the economy of Alanya, but such facilities that could harm tourism and agriculture should be handled with great care.”
“WE WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE LAWSUIT”
CHP District Chairman Bülent Kandemir said, “Unfortunately, the ministry gave a positive report. As CHP, we will be involved in the lawsuit. We will continue to fight for the future of Alanya in solidarity with environmentally conscious NGOs and our citizens.”
“THEY WANT TO KILL THE GOLDEN EGG-LAYING CHICKEN”
Cleopatra Hoteliers Association President Servet Şakiroğlu stated, “The decision taken by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization is negative for Alanya because we make our living from tourism. 80% of the people working here earn their bread from the tourism sector. The state collects a large amount of revenue and taxes from tourism. Tourism is the golden egg-laying chicken. Unfortunately, those who don’t understand this want to kill the golden egg-laying chicken. With the expansion of this station, it will be impossible to do tourism in Alanya. Tankers will dock on one side, while tourists coming for tourism will try to swim in the sea. Is this possible? Tour operators won’t even take bookings in such conditions. This is a very dangerous situation for tourism. This area will become a petroleum distribution zone for the Mediterranean, and it will be impossible to do tourism under these conditions.”
“A SERIOUS THREAT TO TOURISM, AGRICULTURE, NATURE, AND TRAFFIC”
Şakiroğlu continued, “It will also be impossible to do agriculture. Why? Because these tanks expand due to heat. When the temperature rises, they release toxic air. This will kill all the crops, including avocados and bananas, and destroy agriculture. It will destroy nature, including flowers, insects, and sea turtles. When an oil spill happens, cleaning it will be nearly impossible. Tourists will not want to swim in an oil-laden sea. This is extremely dangerous for our ecosystem.
Another risk is traffic congestion. On one side, there will be tourist buses, on the other, tankers. This is completely wrong. The ministry needs to reconsider its decision. We, as tourism professionals, have already filed a lawsuit. We will defend our rights in court. We have joined this case and will go all the way to the end."
