CHP’s Mahmut Tanal lodges a complaint about power cuts in southeast Turkey

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul MP Mahmut Tanal has appealed to the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) and lodged a complaint against the Dicle Electricity Distribution Inc. (DEDAŞ), which provides electricity to the Kurdish-majority Urfa, Diyarbakır, Mardin, Batman, Siirt and Şırnak provinces in southeast Turkey.

The DEDAŞ has recently been criticized for the irregular power cuts in the region as well as its seizure of the money granted to farmers as agricultural support and enforcement actions taken against the farmers.

CLICK - Farmers in southeast Turkey 'fed up with illegal power cuts'

In his petition of complaint, CHP's Tanal has reminded the EPDK that the company distributes and retails electricity in the region and raised concerns that the electric transformers set up by farmers by their own means are removed by the DEDAŞ because of debt, electricity has been cut off in several villages and water drills do not work due to low voltage.

Deprived of water due to the prevention of the company, villagers' crops have dried up in the fields and their animals have perished, Tanal has further noted in his petition. He has also indicated that citizens living in those six cities are faced with excessive electricity bills.

The MP has requested that the DEDAŞ be given the necessary penal sanctions due to its unlawful activities in the region.

He has further argued that the actions of the company are against the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as well as the related judgements of the Court of Cassation and Council of State, underlining that an end to these actions is of crucial importance.

'Animals are dying due to power cuts'

Tanal has also made a statement about the issue. "When I see the electricity debts, I personally get afraid," he has said, "How much do farmers earn and use electricity that they have such high electricity debts? They cannot pay these debts even if they harvest gold from their fields."

Mahmut Tanal has reiterated that "just when the crops need water the most, the DEDAŞ cuts electricity by referring to these debts as a reason."

He has also added: "Houses do not have electricity and, if they do, its voltage is low. The electricity infrastructure of Şanlıurfa and other provinces is old. The electricity cables break off with the tiniest wind, endangering lives. When there is no electricity, there is no water, either.

"The crops that farmers planted amid all kinds of difficulties dry up due to the attitude of the DEDAŞ. There are news suggesting that several animals have perished. In this summer heat and amid pandemic, this treatment deemed proper for the people of the Southeast is unacceptable." (HA/SD)