Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu introduced the “Post-Disaster Temporary Housing Areas” in Ataşehir and Topkapı to the public.
İmamoğlu, who came together with the citizens at the Ataşehir Deniz Gezmiş Park Post-Disaster Shelter Area, made observations in the region.
İmamoğlu, who received information about the works carried out in both areas from the Head of the Department of Earthquake Risk Management and Urban Improvement, Tayfun Kahraman, was accompanied by Mayor of Ataşehir Battal İlgezdi, General Secretary Can Akın Çağlar and Head of the Park Garden and Green Areas Department Çağatay Seçkin.
The introductory meeting, held with the participation of a crowded community of citizens, started with a minute of silence for thousands of citizens who lost their lives in the Marmara earthquake of 17 August 1999.
The works carried out in the Topkapı Park Post-Disaster Shelter Area were shown to the participants with a cinevision image. Making the first speech at the meeting, Kahraman conveyed detailed information about their work to the participants.
3 DANGERS THAT Await Istanbul
Taking the microphone after Kahraman, İmamoğlu expressed his condolences to the citizens who lost their lives in the Marmara earthquake of 17 August 1999 and to their relatives.
Stressing that the three most important threats to Istanbul are the refugee problem and Channel Istanbul, along with the earthquake, İmamoğlu criticized the lack of institutional and social cooperation.
Pointing out that the efforts of responsible individuals and institutions to meet around a table are very important, İmamoğlu said, “99 Marmara Earthquake gave us very important lessons, but it cannot be said that we have learned enough. If we still say that ‘the most important problem, the most important threat is earthquake’ in Istanbul today, it is a sign that we cannot get enough progress.
TO MEET THE MINISTER
Emphasizing that the transformation against earthquakes should be carried out as soon as possible, İmamoğlu said:
* I said it is important to fulfill the struggle until the disaster and after the disaster. In this sense, we had a suggestion in Istanbul; I also conveyed this to our minister of city planning. We interviewed several times.
* Our dialogue has been running at the highest level recently. I want to underline this. If we give politics a struggle over Turkey’s fight against the earthquake, one of the most important issues to me, we are obliged to move to another platform.
* This alone is not the job of a government era. It is not the work of a single Metropolitan Municipality or partly of 39 district municipalities. When we conveyed this proposal to our minister of urbanism, he expressed that he was warm.
* We will present the work we have done on which philosophy to carry out this in more depth to them. Both IMM and Ministry of Urbanization officials will discuss this; Then I hope we will meet with the Minister personally at the point of achieving a healthy result. We have a consensus on this issue.
“THE THREAT IS WAITING AT THE DOOR”
Stating that the understanding of obtaining political benefits should be put aside regarding the earthquake issue, İmamoğlu drew attention to the loss of life and economic losses to be experienced in a possible disaster.
Emphasizing that there will be losses for an irreversible period, İmamoğlu said, “Then there is no greater mobilization in such an environment. The threat is also waiting at the door. We will act quickly. Such a council will be established; Will a zoning decision be taken under his coordination, is there minimum common conditions for that job… Neither the district municipality will deal with the politics of that business, nor the IMM nor the Ministry.
Nobody is going to do a delivery job. A process will be defined on the benefit of the citizen. Everyone will do their job. No, there was a lot of A party in the Parliament, party B was a lot, the story… I think it is indispensable to have a supra-political institution for the ripening of the words that will replace all these provisions ”.
“WE WON’T LIVE THE TREATY”
Noting that when an earthquake occurs, areas such as the parking lot they promote will be in immense need, İmamoğlu used the following statements;
* We will no longer expose any green areas to a zoning change in this city. We will not make anyone experience the great betrayal of being a government that opens green space to development. Let’s underline it once.
* This is not a blessing that should be. On the one hand, KİPTAŞ will deal, on the other hand, and on the other. We are obliged to solve such chronic problems of Istanbul with the collective solution model we will put forward.
* We have no other choice. The future of 16 million people, 83 million people… The threat of the Istanbul earthquake is this great.
“LET’S WORK FOR THIS CITY AND THIS COUNTRY”
Saying “Every institution of the state, our institution is our brother,” Imamoglu completed his words as follows:
* It is our main responsibility to do business with every institution of the state. But if an institution of the state insistently wants to betray Istanbul, it is our responsibility to stand against it; Let’s express it.
* So we will not wait for hands in the form of surrender. I express it very clearly on this issue: I want a nonsense called Kanal Istanbul to be removed from the agenda of Istanbul.
“WE STAY DIMMELY THROUGH YOU”
* This city does not have such an agenda. The agenda of this city; to ensure the life health of the people of this city. The agenda of this city; It is to get rid of the fear and threat of earthquakes as soon as possible.
* Let’s stand shoulder to shoulder for that great measure, arm in arm, protect each other, strengthen our institutions.
* Let’s work for Istanbul and this country without competing any institution. We are in a great struggle for the earthquake, so to speak; servants, we become slaves. We’ll be ready. But we stand firmly before you for Kanal Istanbul.
