Reaction from Mukhtar Vural: "Water wars have begun in the neighborhood"

Mukhtar Vural’s water reaction: "Agricultural production is at risk, water wars have begun"

Rüştü Vural, the headman of Aliefendi Neighborhood and President of the Alanya Mukhtars Association, stated that although water was discovered five years ago, it has still not been put into use, putting agricultural production in danger. Vural said, “Farmers are desperately hauling water with tankers.”

In the eastern part of Alanya, agricultural production is under great threat due to water scarcity. Vural explained that five years ago, in cooperation with Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, water was found in the neighborhood, but it has not yet been connected to the network. He added: “The projects are ready, waiting for tender, but not completed. For five years, the water looks at us, we look at the water, but we cannot use it. The cost is around 17-18 million TL. If it is not done, next year we will do it ourselves with the residents.”

Vural pointed out that farmers have started transporting water with tankers out of desperation: “We pay 2,500 TL for a single tanker of water. Avocados need irrigation every four days, but farmers irrigate once in ten days. One farmer had to abandon his 4-decare land because it dried up.”

He also recalled that Antalya Metropolitan Mayor Muhittin Böcek had visited the region and witnessed the problem firsthand: “We were told that a permit from DSI was required, we handled that too, but we still have no water. Authorities cite austerity measures, but there can be no savings in agricultural production. If farmers do not produce, this country cannot develop.”

Emphasizing that “water wars” have already started in the neighborhood, Vural said: “ASAT fined 13 people who watered their cows with mains water due to lack of water. What should the residents do? Since the 50-ton limit was exceeded, neighbors started reporting each other. Recently, we didn’t even have drinking water for four days.”