AKP Lets Down Environmental Issues

The Chamber of Environmental Engineers (CMO) has interpreted the renewed election victory of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) as a loss for the environment: "Turkey has been convicted to another five years without policies."

* Since 2002, there has been no improvement in the important areas of drinking water and general water supplies, canalisation, solid waste and sewage treatment.

* Turkey has fallen behind as far as quality of air and water, soil and biological diversity are concerned.

* There has been no control over the destruction of forests, coastlines, fields and natural and cultural assets

* Science and law have been ignored

* There has been insufficient employment of expert staff

The CMO shows that Turkey has fallen behind in international environmental ranking from 2002 to 2005. It emphasises that the AKP has not invested in basic infrastructure to provice social and environmental health. Turkey is on par with much less-developed countries as far as canalisation, water supplies, sewage and waste are concerned. It gives the following examples:

* Only 69 percent of municipalities have a canalisation system

* Of the 3,225 muncipalities only 324 treat their waste water with the existing 195 water treatment plants.

* Of these same municipalities only 304, that is under 10 percent, offer treatment plants for drinking water.

* There are only 46 solid waste depots in Turkey. (TK/AG)