CHP Tekirdag Deputy Dr. İlhami Özcan Aygun spoke about the pollution of the Ergene River and the problems experienced in the Marmara Sea in the Parliament yesterday. Aygun said, “The Ergene River has not been cleaned since 2011. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan failed to keep his promise. Ergene River, coal is flowing,” he said. Explaining that the Sea of Marmara continues to be polluted and that the recommendations of the Parliamentary Mucilage Research Commission were not implemented, Aygun said, “So we tried in vain. Even the Marmara Sea Protection Action Plan is not being implemented.”
“FACE IN THE ERGENE RIVER” PROPOSAL TO THE PRESIDENT
Aygun addressed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his speech at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey yesterday. Reminding that Erdogan promised to “clean up the Ergene River like the Golden Horn” in 2011, Aygun said, “It’s been 12 years, stop cleaning Ergene, he made such a blunder that it’s mind-blowing! At the Ordinary Provincial Congress held in Tekirdağ on November 13, 2020, he asked how Ergene was flowing. The party members also lied and said, ‘It flows brightly’. So, I’m calling out to the President from here, let’s see a face in this brightly flowing Ergene!” he said.
“WE BATTLE IN THE AIR!”
Reminding that the Mucilage Research Commission was established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey last year and that he also served there, Aygun said, “However, nothing was implemented. We beat water in the air. We are back to where we came from,” he said. Aygun pointed out that the 283-kilometer-long Ergene River, which originates from the Istranca Mountain and merges with the Meriç River, empties into the Saros Gulf, almost turning into a sewer.
“DO NOT LET THE SEA OF MARMARA BE LIKE THE ARAL LAKE!”
Aygun, who also reacted to Ergene Derin Discharge, said, “Stop giving the water from Ergene Wastewater Plant to the Marmara Sea with deep discharge. This will be the death of Marmara. Scientists warned, we put a dissenting opinion, no one listens!” shared information.
Pointing to the environmental disaster experienced in the Aral Lake by former Undersecretary of Maritime Mustafa Koçak, Aygun pointed to the warning “The change of pollutant loads in the basin causes an environmental disaster”. Saying, “The Marmara Sea should not be like the Aral Sea,” Aygun wanted Ergene to be watched full-time.
“SAVE WATER RESOURCES!
Aygun made the following warnings, calling for the protection of water resources:
“We say not to allow the establishment of facilities such as Plastic OIZ on agricultural sites and water resources, but former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım comes to Çorlu and says that while the court decision is still in progress, Plastic OIZ will be opened. In other words, you have reached out to the court and justice again. You have been blinded by rent, leaving the environment, land and pastures, all you see is the Dollar!”
Aygun, who asked for the Marmara Sea Protection Action Plan and the proposals made in the Mucilage Commission in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and the dissenting opinion to be taken into account, said, “Our Ergene is coal flowing. The Sea of Marmara is also in danger! Listen to us,” he reacted.
