All Illegal Structures Along the Shore of Sapanca Lake Will Be Removed

Sapanca Park Project Information Meeting, AKOM

Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Yusuf Alemdar stated that claims alleging the Sapanca Park project is harming the lake are unfounded, emphasizing that they oppose all practices that pollute, occupy, or degrade the lake’s water quality. Speaking at a press conference held to respond to misleading and baseless allegations, Mayor Alemdar said that they are meticulously continuing the projects prepared to protect Sapanca Lake and carry it into the future.

Yusuf Alemdar, Mayor of Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality

The Shore of Sapanca Lake Is a Protected Area

Saying, “Our only concern is to protect Sapanca Lake,” Sakarya Metropolitan Mayor Yusuf Alemdar continued:

“Sapanca Lake belongs to all of us. For this reason, we are carefully carrying out our projects to protect our lake and pass it on to future generations. While doing so, we do not make decisions on our own; we act in cooperation with our scientists, universities, and the relevant ministries. We pay close attention to maintaining the balance between protection and use. We have absolutely no intention of carrying out land reclamation around Sapanca Lake, narrowing the basin, or occupying the lake. On the contrary, we show great sensitivity to ensuring that the lake’s natural feeding processes are not disrupted and that the water is not harmed. We oppose all practices that pollute, occupy, or deteriorate water quality. During cleaning efforts, we also identified that the wastewater of some illegal structures along the shoreline was being discharged into the lake. The shore of Sapanca Lake is a protected site and must be open to public use. Our greatest dream is to prevent all occupations along the lakeshore and ensure that everyone can benefit equally from the lakefront. For this reason, we will remove all illegal structures within the protected area.”