Due to the drought, it was determined that Lake Van retreated one to 2 kilometers in some regions, and the water level decreased by 3 meters. According to the findings of Yüzüncü Yıl University (YYU) Fisheries Faculty, this was the highest withdrawal ever seen. Noting that bigger disasters will occur if measures are not taken, Ali Kalçık, President of the Historical Artifacts Protection Research and Development Association (ÇEV-DER) Van Branch, said that such a withdrawal had not been witnessed before.

 

WATER SOURCES ARE DRYING UP

 

Ali Kalçık stated that not signing the Paris Climate Agreement has carried disasters to a higher level, noting that the big lakes shrunk and the small lakes dried up to a large extent. Kalçık said, “We experienced great natural disasters, especially in 2021. Forest fires, severe floods due to rains, and droughts in our region were also experienced. All water resources in Van, which are mostly in the form of ponds, have reached the drying stage. Not only the ponds, but even the dams are now completely dry. The decrease in the water level in Lake Van shows that billions of cubic meters of water is now gone. This is a serious disaster. Water policies should be used correctly.

 

ZİLAN EXAMPLE

 

Reminding that the decrease in water level and retreats harm marine life, Kalçık said, citing the mass fish deaths from Zilan Creek due to hydroelectric power stations, he said: “Hundreds of creatures live in the water. Where there is no aquatic life, there is no life. Zilan Creek is a very important place for us both historically and as a water source. 3 hydroelectric power stations have been built in the region and these stations prevent the flow of water and damage the living space of living things. In addition to this, they started to search for gold with cyanide. If cyanide gets into Lake Van, as in Zilan Creek, these creatures will be doomed. It also means the death of the lake. For this reason, an ecosystem should be formed in which people, nature and all living things can live, by abandoning the capitalist understanding.

 

IF THERE IS NO LAKE, THERE IS NO VAN

 

Drawing attention to the Law on the Protection of Lake Van, Kalçık stated that the shore of the lake was occupied by businesses like restaurants and cafés, and that the pollution flowing in was directly mixed into the sea. Kalçık continued his words as follows: “For years, all NGOs and all their associates have been demanding the Law on the Protection of Lake Van to be enacted. A part of the water flowing into the lake is treated, but in another large part, the wastewater flows directly into the lake. The Lake Van Conservation Law must be enacted. Everything must be done to end the occupation around the lake and to protect the lake. Because without a lake, there would be Van. We must not remain silent in the face of this disaster.” 

 

 

MA / Barış Dönmez