The Munzur Association to Protect Natural Life has published a map of dams and hydroelectric projects (HES) to demonstrate the extent of the ecological and cultural destruction carried out by the AKP government.
The Munzur Association to Protect Natural Life has published a map of dams and hydroelectric projects (HES) to demonstrate the extent of the ecological and cultural destruction carried out by the AKP government.
The Munzur Association to Protect Natural Life used data obtained from the State Water Authority (DSI) to compile its map, according to which the total number of completed and planned dams and HES in North Kurdistan is 290. The total number of projects, completed, under construction or projected, is 1,487.
Water: The main cause of future wars
The Munzur Association to Protect Natural Life has drawn attention to the fact that water has become a global problem, warning that it will be the main cause of future conflicts. In its statement the Munzur Association to Protect Natural Life emphasised the frightening scale of Turkey’s dam and HES projects. The statement said: “These projects are polluting and destroying water resources, and industrial, mining and power station waste is poisoning the environment and threatening the health of the population.”
The statement said the worst destruction has taken place during the period of the AKP government, with policies that have led to high levels of pollution.
Number of dams and HES projects: 1,487
The Munzur Association to Protect Natural Life shared the information it received from the DSI in reply to its application. According to this data, the total number of projects, completed, under construction or projected, is 1,487. “As of 31 December 2014 the number of projects in Turkey as a whole that are producing energy is 503. Sixty five of these projects are run by the DSI, while 438 were constructed and are being operated by the private sector. 143 projects are under construction, 139 of which are being undertaken by the private sector, while there are 841 more projects at the planning stage.”
The association said that while most of the HES projects in the Black Sea region involve water being carried in pipes, in North Kurdistan most of the projects consist of dams with water in lakes.
Most dam projects in Black Sea region
Province Projects Projects under Licences Total projects
completed construction issued
Trabzon 35 49 9 93
Artvin 16 58 10 84
Giresun 26 31 11 68
Erzurum 21 35 7 63
Maraş 33 16 5 54
Antalya 19 27 8 54
Adana 22 21 3 46
Rize 14 25 3 42
The number of projects in North Kurdistan is as follows:
ELAZIĞ 8 6 2 16
MALATYA 9 12 6 27
DERSİM 5 4 0 9
BİNGÖL 5 13 4 19
VAN 6 21 2 29
MUŞ 2 5 2 11
BİTLİS 2 14 2 18
HAKKARİ 3 17 0 20
AMED 6 5 0 11
MARDİN 1 0 0 1
SİİRT 4 5 4 13
ŞIRNAK 1 12 0 13
BATMAN 2 7 0 9
ERZİNCAN 13 11 5 29
AĞRI 0 3 0 3
KARS 10 10 0 21
ARDAHAN 2 5 3 10
IĞDIR 1 1 1 3
ADIYAMAN 12 10 3 25
URFA 2 1 0 3
