Welcome to our pick of the news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Infrastructure work comes to an end as parquet is laid along harbour road
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Deputy Mayor Bolelli (left) meets with road chief Sinan Kılınç
The Infrastructure works on Cahit Gündüz Caddesi in Fethiye are coming to an end as teams lay new parquet.
Fethiye Municipality Deputy Mayor Oğuz Bolelli met with road chief Sinan Kılınç on Thursday to insğect the work.
As part of the upgrade to the infrastructure work taking place around Fethiye and local areas, electricity lines have been moved underground and sewage lines renewed along Cahit Gündüz Caddesi, the harbour road in Fethiye.
Work is now being carried out to renew approximately 20,000 square meters of parquet surface after which Fethiye Municipality Park and Gardens Directorate teams will start work to renew the garden border.
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Kilinç said, “We want to finish the coast road as soon as possible. We thank the institutions we work with during the infrastructure improvements. Our work will continue in a coordinated manner.”
Roadside parking fees take effect in Fethiye from Monday
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In accordance with the plan prepared by the Muğla Metropolitan Municipality and approved by the Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) dated 24.06.2020 and numbered 2020 / 5-194, provincial road vehicle parking fees will be effective from 29 March.
Road parking prices in Fethiye will be 0-15 minutes free, 15-30 minutes 5 TL, 30-60 minutes 6 TL, and 60-120 minutes 7 TL. In addition, after 2 hours, 3 TL will be applied to each additional hour.
Inspections were carried out at Saklıkent Canyon this week in preparation for the season.
47,670 local and foreign tourists visited the 18-kilometer canyon last year.
The canyon was examined by the Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks and the Muğla Regional Directorate of Forests. Checks were carried out to ensure the safety of visitors during the upcoming tourist season.
Göcek Tunnel brought to agenda in parliament once again
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The issue of the Göcek Tunnel has been brought to the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly by CHP Muğla Deputy Süleyman Girgin who has asked three questions of the Planning and Budget Committee, of which he was a member.
1) How many vehicles have passed through the Göcek tunnel since the day it opened? 2) How much profit has the company made since the opening of the tunnel? 3) When will the promises given as free of charge be fulfilled?
The parliamentary questions were submitted by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Adil Karaismailoğlu in January with an answer promised in writing. On March 9, Minister Karaismailoğlu replied with a single sentence:
“There is no provision for vehicle transactions in the construction work contract of the Göcek Tunnel, which is tendered under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. It is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Implementation Contracts in accordance with the legislation.”
Evaluating the answer as unsatisfactory, Girgin has committed to continue to bring the Göcek Tunnel issue to the attention of the Turkish Grand National Assembly at every opportunity as they hold the authority to make changes on behalf of the people.
Göcek Tunnel tolls to continue until 2025
Girgin gave the following information about the tunnel:
“The Göcek tunnel was opened in 2006 under a build-operate-transfer model at a cost of 13 million dollars. To pass through this 900-meter tunnel, you have to pay in both directions. Although the Göcek Tunnel is only 960 meters, a fee of 11 Turkish lira each way is charged for passing through this tunnel. In comparison, the 119 km long Izmir-Aydin Highway, which includes the Selahattin Tunnel, 3 times longer than the Göcek Tunnel, is only 7.5 lira. There is no logical justification for these two different pricing policies.
Despite the announcement that it would be free, the second tunnel has also been transferred to the company, deducting 7 years from the expiry date of the first contract in 2032. Tunnel charges will continue until 2025.”
Waterfall feeding world-famous valley in danger of drying out
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A river originating in the province of Muğla’s Fethiye district and reaching the Butterfly Valley is in danger of drying out due to the unauthorized use of the water by hotels, motels and hostels in the area.
Situated in the neighbourhood of Ölüdeniz on the foothills of world-renowned Mount Babadağ, the valley, which was named after the 80 different butterfly species it shelters, is an attraction to visitors with its outstanding nature and plant diversity including endemic plants.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Butterfly Valley
Residents and environmental volunteers investigated the reason for the translucence of the water in the stream and found that pipes were laid in the streambed.
The pipes directed water from the stream to hotels, motels and hostels in the vicinity.
A complaint was filed with the Presidential Communication Center (CİMER) after the pipes were photographed and the findings were registered.
Hasan Gürbüz, the chairman of the Anatolian Tourism Development Cooperative, who holds the operating rights of Butterfly Valley, told Hürriyet Daily News that nature on the water route is under threat saying, “If the use of spring water by businesses continues in this way, there is no doubt that many trees and plants on the water route, especially Butterfly Valley, will dry out and the ecological structure of the environment will change as of this summer.” Gürbüz warned that if the situation is not resolved, the valley will turn into a desert.
Mahir Işıkay, a lawyer, emphasised Article 168 of the Turkish Constitution saying, “It is illegal for these enterprises to use water without permission by laying pipes in the region where the Butterfly Valley is located.”
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
SPORT
Turkey beats Norway 3-0 in World Cup qualifiers
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The Turkish national team continued its impressive start to the European Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup by beating Norway 3-0 on Saturday.
Turkey’s manager Şenol Güneş said he is proud of the team’s game and his players were smart, disciplined and patient against Norway.
“We played against a strong team, Norway, and we beat them. We are happy. We won and we did everything right.”
Turkey will allow a limited number of fans to attend its World Cup qualifier match against Latvia at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium on Tuesday, according to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).
The 76,000-seat Atatürk Olympic Stadium will admit fans to 15% of its capacity, the TFF said in a statement on its website.
However, the match will be a one-time arrangement and will follow all UEFA, TFF and Turkish health protocols, including mandatory Life Fits into Home (HES) codes, which is a Ministry of Health mobile application that tracks COVID-19 infections.
The ticketing details will be announced later by the football federation.
