100th Day of Thirst in Alakır
Click to read the article in Turkish
100 days have passed over since Tuğba Pınar Günal and Birhan Erkutlu’s water was cut in Alakır Valley in Antalya’s Kumluca.
For more than three months, the couple have been fulfilling their need of water from Alakır River located 200 meters down from their home.
Günal and Erkutlu protested the process, which has begun with Dedegöl Energy site chef Ali Süzen purchasing the land behind the couple’s home, with a banner reading “100th Day of Thirst” they hung on their fountain that doesn’t work.
They have filed a legal suit to get their water back
Known with their struggle against the hydroelectric plant at Alakır Valley, vein of the natural water extracting from their private-registered land was cut with earth digger on October 9.
During this process, the couple have filed a legal suit against Ali Süzen who is both the site chef and owner. Saying that the expert analysis ended, Günal stated “We demand that the water that is our right be given back to us”.
“Our kitchen garden may dry out if it doesn’t rain”
“We are either carrying water from the river or trying to collect the water dripping. We continue to fulfil all our needs from laundry to cooking from the Alakır Valley located 200 meters away from us.
“We planted broad bean and pea. There is a bit of rain so the problem is not that big at the moment but the area is arid..If it doesn’t rain in summer, they may dry out too. That’s why, we need to have water”.
Alakır Valley struggle of Günal and Erkutlu
Tuğba Pınar Günal and Birhan Erkutlu settled in Kuzca Neighborhood, which is a mountainous village that hosts 70-km long Alakır River.
Firstly, Günal and Erkutlu started to live in a tent and then the wooden house they called “home”. They have been known with their struggle against the hydroelectric plant planned to be built on the valley.
Lastly, in December, five hydroelectric plant projects planned to be built on three areas have become unbuildable by Council of Ministers’ decision declaring three areas “Sustainable and Controlled Area of Usage”. (TP/TK)