26.04.2025 01:01
The Presidency's Communication Directorate's Disinformation Combat Center stated that the comments made regarding the decision taken in 2022 about the Sazlıdere Dam, which suggest it could lead to a "water crisis in Istanbul," are aimed at manipulating public opinion.
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The Presidency of Communications' Disinformation Combat Center (DMM) reported that comments made regarding the decision taken in 2022 about the Sazlıdere Dam in Istanbul, which could lead to a "water crisis in Istanbul," are aimed at manipulating public opinion.
DMM'S DENIAL
In a statement made from DMM's social media account, it was noted that various manipulation campaigns were being conducted regarding a decision taken in 2022 about the Sazlıdere Dam in Istanbul, and it was determined that an impression was being created that a "water crisis would occur in Istanbul." The statement mentioned that data regarding Istanbul's water resources and water consumption refuted claims that the Kanal Istanbul Project or the 24,000 social housing projects built to meet the needs of low-income citizens would "condemn Istanbul to drought." The statement included the following expressions:
"Considering the dates of the decisions, it is also clearly seen that the works within the scope of the projects have no relation to the 'detention of any of them.' According to 2024 data, Istanbul's annual water consumption is approximately 1 billion 162 million cubic meters. The current yield of the Sazlıdere Dam is 51 million cubic meters per year. When the Kanal Istanbul Project is activated, 61% of the resources feeding the Sazlıdere Dam will remain within the canal, but the remaining 39% will be preserved.
The impact of water loss in the part of the Sazlıdere Dam that falls within the Kanal Istanbul Project on the overall water supply of Istanbul is at the level of 3%. The amount of water supplied to Istanbul since the beginning of the year is 338 million cubic meters. A total of 287 million cubic meters of water has been supplied to Istanbul through regulators built by the DSİ, with 212 million cubic meters from the Melen Regulator and 75 million cubic meters from the Yeşilçay Regulator."
"IT IS AIMED AT MANIPULATING THE PUBLIC"
In the statement, it was mentioned that the current occupancy rate of Istanbul's dams is at the level of 82.10%, and it was reported that the General Directorate of DSİ is continuing to work on various projects to create additional water sources and storage facilities on the European side to meet future needs.
"As can be understood from the data, comments regarding the decision taken about the Sazlıdere Dam that it could lead to a 'water crisis in Istanbul' are aimed at manipulating the public." The statement recorded the following:
"On the other hand, the decision regarding the Sazlıdere Dam is not a decision made recently. A cooperation protocol was prepared with the contributions of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and within this protocol, the issue of 'removing the Sazlıdere Dam from the drinking water reserve' was expressed. In this direction, on September 15, 2022, the drinking water purpose of the Sazlıdere Dam was removed."
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