Fifteen people lost their lives in the stubble fire disaster! New statement from DEDAŞ: We couldn't install new electricity poles because of the illegal use of electricity.

In a new statement from Dicle Elektrik regarding the neglected electricity poles, which were claimed to be the cause of the straw fires that claimed the lives of 15 people in Diyarbakır and Mardin, Dicle Elektrik General Manager Yaşar Arvas mentioned the example of Şanlıurfa and stated that they could not realize an investment worth 1.49 billion liras due to illegal electricity usage. Arvas used the expression "The project is currently at a standstill because 33 out of the 113 poles in the project have not been erected due to obstacles."

The accusation of electricity poles being the cause of the straw fire disaster in Diyarbakır and Mardin had turned the attention to Dicle Elektrik. The company had made a statement saying, "The fire is not caused by electricity, and we request our citizens to patiently wait for the results of the investigation conducted by the Republic Prosecutor's Office," with documents and images proving this. Today, Dicle Elektrik General Manager Yaşar Arvas made striking statements regarding illegal electricity usage in Şanlıurfa. Arvas emphasized that they are fighting against unauthorized electricity consumption, especially in rural and agricultural irrigation areas.

"148 OF OUR PROJECTS WORTH 1.49 BILLION LIRAS COULD NOT BE REALIZED DUE TO OBSTACLES"

Arvas stated that illegal electricity usage also hinders the healthy operation of the main grid and said, "Our investment activities for Şanlıurfa are occasionally hindered by unauthorized electricity usage. Between 2018 and 2023, 148 of our projects worth 1.49 billion liras could not be realized due to obstacles. We allocated significant budgets for improvement and development in Şanlıurfa, but our investment budgets are often hindered by those who consume illegal electricity. Our infrastructure improvement and development works in Şanlıurfa have been frequently interrupted by interventions. However, despite this, as Dicle Elektrik, we allocated 33% of our total maintenance budget to Şanlıurfa and tried to make all possible improvements," he said.

"33 OUT OF 113 POLES HAVE NOT BEEN ERECTED DUE TO OBSTACLES"

Arvas also provided information about the obstructed investments and said, "For example, the construction of the Akçakale F8 Büyüktaş energy transmission line and building facility, which costs 28 million liras, has not been possible since 2020 due to obstacles. However, this project was supposed to supply the central Akçakale and rural settlements with agricultural irrigation facilities. 33 out of the 113 poles in the project have not been erected due to obstacles, so the project is at a standstill. There is also the construction of a new source feeder and distribution center in the Kadıkendi and Batıkent neighborhoods of the Eyyübiye district, which costs 30 million liras. The project, which started in 2023 and will benefit 30,000 subscribers in the Devteşti region, cannot be realized due to the municipality's failure to allocate land for the distribution center building," he said.

Arvas also mentioned that they provide generator support to areas where schools, police stations, and debt-free transformer users are needed, and pointed out that the cost of generators has reached 90 million liras. Arvas stated that investment planning for Şanlıurfa is ongoing and mentioned that they have planned an investment of 8 billion 563 million liras for the next 2 years.

STRAW FIRE DISASTER IN DIYARBAKIR AND MARDIN

The fire, which started as a straw and cover fire in Köksalan Neighborhood of Çınar district in Diyarbakır on June 20 at 22:15 and affected the neighborhoods of Yazçiçeği, Bağrık, and Ağaçsever due to the intensity of the wind, had progressed towards Yücebağ, Şenyuva, and Yetkinler neighborhoods in Mazıdağı district of Mardin. The fire was brought under control as a result of the intense efforts of the fire crews and citizens. 15 people lost their lives in the straw fires.