Response from İSKİ to Sazlıdere allegations

The project, named “Toki Sazlıdere Residences” by the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ), is located in the Sazlıbosna and Hacımaşlı Neighborhoods of the Arnavutköy district, in a part of the Yenişehir reserve construction area, and this area is within the absolute, short, medium and long-range protection areas of the Sazlıdere Dam Drinking Water Basin.

In the statement made by İSKİ, the following statements were made:

Lie: İSKİ is violating the right to life by not providing water to Toki Sazlıdere Residences.

Fact: According to the legislation, water is not provided to construction activities that are considered illegal structures. However, notifications have been sent to the relevant authorities by İSKİ stating that illegal structures located within the drinking water basin will be demolished.

The housing project called Toki Sazlıdere Residences and the zoning plans prepared for this project for Arnavutköy district, Sazlıbosna and Hacımaşlı Neighborhoods, and a part of the Yenişehir reserve construction area are located within the absolute, short, medium and long-range protection areas of the Sazlıdere Dam Drinking Water Basin, from which it takes its name. With the plans in question, the absolute and short-range protection areas, which are closed to construction in accordance with the provisions of the basin legislation and meticulously protected by İSKİ, are being opened to construction, and in the medium and long-range protection areas, it is envisaged to exceed the population and construction values ​​determined by the basin legislation and bring a population of 118,000 people.

For this reason, objections were submitted to the aforementioned plans by İSKİ and as a result of the rejection of the objections, legal proceedings were initiated regarding the cancellation and suspension of execution of the said plans. The legal process regarding the said plans, which İSKİ did not have a positive opinion on and were not taken as basis by the Administration, is ongoing.

Contrary to the statements in the news mentioned, water subscriptions are requested from İSKİ to be used in construction activities at the starting point, not the finishing point, and İSKİ does not provide water to construction activities that are considered illegal construction. In addition, notifications have been sent to the relevant authorities stating that illegal constructions within the drinking water basin will be demolished by İSKİ.

İSKİ carries out all its work and operations within the framework of the legislation. In this context, Article 31 of the Zoning Law No. 3194 titled “Buildings without a occupancy permit” states that “The completion date of construction is the date on which the occupancy permit is granted. In buildings that are not granted or have not been granted occupancy permits, electricity, water and sewage services and facilities cannot be used until the permit is obtained. However, independent sections that have a occupancy permit can benefit from these services.”

The 18th article of the Law No. 2560 on the Establishment and Duties of the General Directorate of Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration titled "Water and Sewerage Status Document" states that 'Real and legal persons requesting a license from the municipality for a construction must first obtain a document from İSKİ regarding the water and sewage status. İSKİ issues a water and sewage status document according to the water and sewage network in that location. In cases where the status document is not obtained or the installation is constructed in violation of the status document, the provisions of the zoning legislation regarding unlicensed structures shall apply. It is essential to obtain the opinion of İSKİ regarding the compatibility with the infrastructure facilities during the preparation phase of the zoning plans.' In this respect, water and sewage administrations in the provinces where metropolitan municipalities are located are authorized to issue water and sewage status documents and to make the necessary collections regarding this.

They have not submitted to İSKİ the projects for which İSKİ's opinion is required, which constitute the basis for the drinking water network lines, wastewater network lines, architectural projects in terms of water and channels, foundation, above-foundation and settlement stages of the parcels in the places mentioned in the news. Therefore, there is no grievance.

The map above shows the planned construction and land use around the Sazlıdere Dam Lake.

The color codes and lines seen on the map have the following meanings:

Red line: Absolute protection zone - The area closest to the lake and absolutely closed to construction. Pink line: Short-distance protection zone - It is a priority area in terms of environmental protection where limited construction is allowed. Orange line: Medium-distance protection zone - It is a buffer zone around the lake where controlled construction is allowed. Yellow and brown areas: Residential areas - Represent low, medium and high density settlements. Blue areas: Amenity areas - Indicates social infrastructure facilities such as schools, public service buildings, administrative facilities. The plan in question foresees dense housing and construction despite the absolute and degree protection zones around the Sazlıdere Dam. This situation poses serious risks in terms of the protection of water resources, environmental sustainability and public benefit.