The Bosphorus will not be zoned for development, minister vows

Duvar English

Environment and City Planning Minister Murat Kurum has stated that the purpose of recent draft legislation outlining the transfer of authority of several Bosphorus-adjacent districts to the central government was not to zone the areas around the strait for development, but to protect them and increase green spaces.

Critics have blasted the move as an attempt to seek revenge for the victory of main opposition Republican People's (CHP) Party Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who defeated the ruling Justice and Development Party's Binali Yıldırım in the local elections in March of this year. The results were subsequently cancelled by the Supreme Election Board (YSK), believed to be a decision requested by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In a second election in June, Imamoğlu won again, this time with a substantial vote increase, which was seen as a major defeat for Erdoğan. 

Critics fear that if the legislation passes, a Bosphorus Ministry would be established, the president and deputy leaders of which would be appointed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The control of four Istanbul districts alongside the Bosphorus would also be seized within the scope of the proposed legislation. Control of those districts currently lies within the scope of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, headed by Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Critics also worry that the bill, if passed, would enable to government to embark upon lucrative development projects on the valuable land that lies near to and overlooks the Bosphorus.

CHP deputies inquired as to why the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) did not introduce such legislation in Istanbul during their long stint governing the city. “But when you lost, this came to your mind. Why didn't you do this in 17 years? Did this come to your mind when the local administration changed hands?” the deputies asked.

Responding to parliamentary questions, Kurum denied the notion that the authority of the districts would be taken from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and that the areas would be zoned for development.

“On the contrary, the regulation in parliament seeks to take important steps to deal with the illegal buildings built near the Bosphorus, to increase the [nearby] green areas, and to protect the natural and historic character of the Bosphorus and its silhouette,” Kurum said.

“The Bosphorus is a national responsibility. There are duties that fall upon all of us. The issue of the Bosphorus is not that of 16 million but of 82 million [people], in fact we see it as an issue of all of humanity,” Kurum said.