Rivers do not run free anymore!
ŞIRNAK (DİHA) - Eleven dams planned to be built in the deep valleys on the borders of North and South Kurdistan in the name of 'security' threaten villages, historical sites and the flora and fauna of the region. Work on these dam projects continues in the Botan and Behdinan region on 'security grounds', despite the ongoing resolution process.
The authorities are also availing themselves of the opportunity to build military bases at the same time as dam foundations are being sunk and hydroelectric power plants are being completed. The aim of the dam projects being undertaken in the Şırnak and Hakkari provinces was made clear in the DSİ (State Water Concern) Directorate General's report in 2007. which stated: “The study and tendering process for 11 dams to be built for the purpose of border security has been completed."
'All sites on banks of the Tigris will disappear one by one'
Despite there being a minimum 900 day period for the tendering process to be completed, in the case of the Silopi dam the tendering process was finished in only 540 days, but the irrigation channels that are part of the project have not been completed on the grounds of lack of funds. In the Botan and Behdinan region and on the Federal Kurdistan border there are many historical sites and cultural artefacts that will be submerged under dam lakes. All sites on the banks of the Tigris flowing through Upper Mesopotamia, starting from the Kasrik gorge all the way to the Hezil stream, will disappear one by one.
'Historical places and many other sites will be submerged'
The Faqiyê Teyran Madrassa, Finike Castle, Assyrian castles, the Alaattin summer palace and many other sites will be submerged. Harun Yalçınkaya, the chair of the Chamber of Geology Engineers in Diyarbakır, said that despite the peace process, dam construction was continuing on the grounds of security. Yalçınkaya emphasised that a military base had been built alongside every hydroelectric project on the border with Federal Kurdistan, adding: “Two of the security dams in the Şırnak area have been completed and are operating. The construction of 5 more is continuing despite the peace process."
'Posing a serious threat to aquatic species'
Yalçınkaya added that these dams threatened widespread destruction, saying: “When the completed hydroelectric projects are examined it will be seen that in dry periods the dam lakes all but disappear, posing a serious threat to aquatic species. Birds and flora in the region are also threatened.” The following dams are being constructed on the Federal Kurdistan border: 1. Şırnak-Silopi dam 2. Şırnak dam 3. Şırnak-Uludere dam 4. Şırnak-Ballı dam 5. Şırnak-Kavşaktepe dam 6. Şırnak-Musatepe dam 7. Şırnak-Çetintepe dam 8. Hakkari-Çocuktepe dam 9. Hakkari-Gölgeliyamaç dam 10. Hakkari Beyyurdu dam and 11. Hakkari-Aslandağı dam.
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