The historical Hevsel Gardens, located between the historical city walls of Sur and the riverbeds of the Tigris in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır, was enlisted as a World Heritage Site in 2015 by UNESCO.
To this day, the fertile lands are still, but the area's integrity is under threat due to construction in the gardens. The area was declared a 'special project zone' in 2016, making way for construction works, with in recent years, a café, roads, and an observation terrace being built.
Criminal complaint
"At the moment, a protected urban natural area and natural landscape are turned into an area for rent. Heavy equipment and trucks are destroying these natural sites and riverbeds. These destructions will damage the wildlife." Ferit Kahraman, a member of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) comments on the protected area.
Kahraman explains that the excavations have been going on for a while and filed a criminal complaint.
"We want to let you know that we have filed a criminal complaint against all the officials responsible. With astonishment, we are looking at how long these destructions will last and what these unconscious works will bring. We demand those responsible punished and the destruction to be stopped."
Doğan Hatun, Co-Chairman of the Chamber of Mining Engineers, stated that when they came to inspect the destruction area, officials of the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Protection Department and Sur Municipality also came to the site and stated that they "asked for permission to take sand and gravel from the river bed", but that they did not attach much importance to this request.
"While not a single nail can be hammered here without the permission of UNESCO and ICOMOS, they can give the municipality the authority to take sand randomly with shovels and trucks. They can see this authority in themselves," Hatun states.
Hatun explains that they are trying to protect the city from municipalities administered by trustees and that it is necessary to remind the municipalities once again that real authority lies with the people.
"The real owner of the city is the people, not the municipalities. Since they do not aim to protect this city, they can randomly change the river bed with heavy equipment. If no sound is heard, they will turn this place into an area of rent." (WM/VK)
