Residents in Ağaçlı Neighbourhood in Kulp district have been protesting for 47 days against a planned Solar Power Plant (GES) project covering approximately 300 decares of land, saying that the project threatens their living spaces. The protest was supported by Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Emin Ay, as well as DEM Party provincial and district organisations, DEM Party Diyarbakır MP Adalet Kaya, district municipality co-mayors, council members, heads of departments and numerous residents.

Co-Mayor Bucak: ‘We Will Not Allow This Project to Continue’

Beginning her speech by greeting those gathered at the protest site, Co-Mayor Serra Bucak said that companies were attempting to carry out unfair practices, particularly in Kulp. Noting that the area has a unique natural environment and contains a water basin, Co-Mayor Bucak said:

“We oppose these projects that they are seeking to carry out. We will not allow this project to continue. In fact, it is not only here; they are also seeking to build a Wind Power Plant (RES) in Muş Varto at the moment.”

EIA Reports Criticised

Co-Mayor Bucak criticised the Ministry over the process of preparing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports, saying that the reports did not reflect reality and that it was unacceptable for them to be prepared in this way.

‘This Region Is Not Without Support’

Stating that the region was not without support, Co-Mayor Bucak said that local authorities, political parties, the ecology movement, civil society organisations and associations were all present in the area and that the issue needed to be discussed collectively. Saying, “If we do not know what this company wants to build here and what it wants to destroy, we cannot fight against it,” Bucak concluded her speech by saying:

“Our roots are here, and your roots are here. We need to know what happens above and below the ground here. I believe that together we will support you in opposing this project.”

‘Energy That Drives People from Their Living Spaces Cannot Be Clean Energy’

DEM Party Diyarbakır MP Adalet Kaya also commented on the project, saying:

“They call these projects ‘Green Energy’ and ‘Clean Energy’. No form of energy that drives people from their living spaces, their natural environment and their land can be green energy or clean energy. This is another version of the displacement policy of the 1990s. We will all fight against it together.”

Residents to Continue Their Protest

Residents of the area said that the planned Solar Power Plant project directly threatens residential areas and living spaces and that if the project goes ahead, it will harm nature and water basins and disrupt the ecological balance. They stated that they would continue their protest.

Inspection of the Planned Solar Power Plant Site

Following the speeches, Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Emin Ay and their accompanying delegation visited the area where the Solar Power Plant (GES) is planned to be built and inspected the site.