64.2 percent of İstanbulites do not support canal project, shows survey

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality has shared the results of its recent survey regarding the Canal İstanbul project, which foresees the construction of an artificial waterway between the Marmara and Black Sea.

While the population of İstanbul is over 15.5 million, 606 thousand 317 people participated in the municipality's survey and the questions were clicked for 4 million 355 thousand 88 times in total.

According to the survey results, 64.2 percent of the participants say that they do not support the Canal İstanbul project while 34.1 percent express support and 1.7 percent say that "it makes no difference."

The other questions and answers are as follows:

The participants were asked, "Do you think that the Canal İstanbul project will be beneficial for İstanbul?" and 606 thousand 291 people answered this question. While 36.8 percent answered in the affirmative, 63.2 percent said that it would not be beneficial for the city.

The İstanbulites were also asked, "What negative effects do you think the Canal İstanbul project will have on İstanbul?"

Of the 1 million 474 thousand 936 people who answered this question, 18.9 percent said that "it would increase the risk of earthquakes," 19 percent said, "It will increase the risk of water shortage," 15.2 percent said, "It will mean the violation of the Convention regarding the Regime of Straits," 17.4 percent said that "it would damage the historical fabric," 13.6 percent said, "It will increase the traffic congestion unbearably" and 15.3 percent said, "I do not think that it will have any negative effects."

'Who do you think need the Canal İstanbul?'

The İMM also asked "if the construction of Canal İstanbul was an urgent problem awaiting a solution." Of 578 thousand 144 answers given to this question, 32.9 percent was "Yes" while 67.1 percent was "No".

When they were asked, "What do you think about the 100 billion lira to be spent on the Canal İstanbul project," 571 thousand 920 people answered this question. While 22.7 percent of the participants said that "other problems of İstanbul should be prioritized," 39 percent said that "the building stock of İstanbul should be made earthquake resistant," 4.7 percent said that "the problem with schools should be solved" and 33.6 percent said, "Canal İstanbul is necessary, it needs to be constructed."

563 thousand 625 İstanbulites also answered the question "Who do you think need Canal İstanbul?" 26.9 percent of the participants said that "the land speculators who bought land along the route of the canal" needed it.

While 14.1 percent of the participants said, "The companies who will get tenders need it", 4.3 percent said, "The ones who will build plazas, high rise buildings and housing projects do," 17 percent said, "The finance circles who gave loans to Turkey with high interest rates and their domestic partners" and 35 percent said, "The people of İstanbul need it."

Of 560 thousand 172 people who answered the question, "Do you support the Canal İstanbul project," 64.2 percent said, "I do not support" while 34.1 percent said that "they supported the project" and 1.7 percent said, "It does not make any difference to me." (RT/SD)