TOKİ Opens Tender for 'Nation's Garden' Construction Around Lake Salda

A campaign has been launched against the planned construction around Lake Salda, which is known as "the Maldives of Turkey" and home to many bird species.

İstanbul

TOKİ Opens Tender for 'Nation's Garden' Construction Around Lake Salda

*Photos: AA

Click to read the article in Turkish (1) (2) / Kurdish

The Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) has announced that it will make a tender for the construction of the "Lake Salda Nation's Garden" on July 31. The "nation's gardens," named by President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, are recreational facilities built by the government.

Murat Kurum, the Minister of Environment and Urbanism, announced in February that a nation's garden will be built around the lake in the southwestern province of Burdur. After criticism, he made another statement, saying that the area will not be zoned for construction.

The TOKİ's announcement prompted reaction on social media, with the hashtag #SaldayaDokunma (Don't touch Salda) becoming a trend topic on Twitter.

Mehmet Göker, an MP of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), has launched a petition on change.org against the tender. It has been signed by more than 50 thousand people within hours.

He said that the area around the Lake Salda should be declared a protected area and construction should not be allowed by any means.

The project announced by Minister Kurum (r) in February.

Gülizar Biçer Karaca, another MP and a vice-chairperson of the CHP called people to protest the decision at the beach of the lake tomorrow (July 30) at 2 p.m.

After reactions, Minister Kurum made a statement, repeating that there will be no construction around the lake. He previously said that bungalows and cafes will be built in the nation's garden.

About Lake Salda

Şanver İsmailoğlu, a geological engineer, gave the following information on Lake Salda in his article published on bianet on February 3:

With a depth of about 185 meters, Salda is the deepest lake in Turkey and the second deepest lake in the world.

Lying on a 45-square-kilometer area, Salda is home for seadragons and 110 types of birds.

Because there is precipitation of MgCO3 (magnesite), there is no vegetation cover on the three sides of the lake.

Because of its geological structure, it can shed light on the forming of the first living organisms and several scientific studies were conducted in the area.

(HA/VK)

lake salda