From the Land of Lights, 11/02/2013
Quote: The State Water Supply Administration awarded the contract for the Gulf of Fethiye to be cleaned from mud last September and now the project has been inaugurated.
The contracting firm has erected its construction site and sent the relative equipment to the region. Work will begin as soon as the permit for the use of the stones used in the project is obtained.
Ali Boğa, Mugla deputy for AK Party, stated that all the formalities would be completed soon and endeavours would be made to finish the work involved ahead of time. Boğa said that the recent case of olive oil waste being poured into the Gulf of Fethiye proved that this was an emergency case, adding, “It is essential for us that this upgrading work is done. We want this project to be completed by the 100th anniversary and the Gulf of Fethiye must be cleaned up completely.”
Boğa also pointed out that the cleaning of the Gulf could not be achieved until the all the water systems entering into the gulf had been restructured, saying, “Our primary job must be to rationaize and upgrade the drainage systems. Then we shall clean the Gulf up. Only then Fethiye can be observed in all its grandeur. This will be of great benefit to our region, particularly in the field of tourism.”
Boğa also explained that as soon as this project was completed, dockyards for cruise ships would be constructed and that it was vital for the authorities and the contracting firm to do their utmost to complete this project.
Ali Boğa stressed that nature belonged to all of us adding, “There is no other Fethiye, nor another Gulf of Fethiye. All of us live here. In order to leave a better environment for our children, everyone, primarily the greenhouse producers, must act conscientiously. Empty bags of agricultural pesticides and chemical wastes should not be thrown into brooks In fact, citizens must report such incidents to the authorities. This is our duty.” End of quote.
I must applaud the efforts to clean up the bay, it’s about time. There are vast quantities of agricultural chemicals draining into the sea and anybody who keeps a boat here has a clear understanding of the water quality. From my personal experience, and that includes owning a water purification business in an earlier life, the hypertrophication ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication ) is the worse I’ve come across.
However, most of this is old news. What is a surprise to me is “ as soon as this project was completed, dockyards for cruise ships would be constructed. “ This has been speculation for a long time, but is it now really about to happen? Is the location at the Karayollari or where the boatyards are now? Are they going to build pontoons out to the deeper water. What is meant by dockyards exactly? What about traffic issues?. I don’t know how much “nature” will be left afterwards. I don’t know whether to be excited or dismayed. I await the next announcement with bated breath!