Court halts hydro power plant project in Van due to environmental damage

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An administrative court has ordered the stay of execution of a hydroelectric power plant project in Çatak, Van in eastern Turkey.

The construction of the "Saral-3" plant on the Sortkin Stream started in 2018. Built by the CE-Mapping and Engineering and Gökkartallar Energy Production Ltd. companies, the plant was expected to cause great damage to Karşıyaka (Sarnüsan), Akçabük (Kumêran) and Işınlı (Surtgin) neighborhoods and Kanispî Waterfall.

Thousands of fish had been killed in the stream in the past four years, according to reports by the Van Association for Protection, Research and Improvement of Environment and Historical Artifacts (ÇEVDER).

Handing down its judgment, the Van 4th Administrative Court stated that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report of the project was not prepared in accordance with the criteria.

Endemic species under threat

The court pointed out that no red-spotted trout species, one of the endemic species in the natural stream bed, have been observed in the region recently.

The facility had not been inspected in the last six months and the life in the water was in danger of extinction, according to the court ruling.

It also mentioned the lack of a waste storage area, which poses a threat to the environment.

Dozers damaged the natural flora, caused the destruction of natural passageways and had a negative impact on the wildlife and living species, said the ruling.

The court concluded that the EIA process should be re-run, also considering the topics stated in the expert report and decided to cancel the action that was the subject of the case. (TY/VK)