The life is taken captive by hydroelectric power plants

img

VAN- The construction works to build the hydroelectric power plant in Zilan Plain have been accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ecologist Fatih Şahin raised the demand to stop the construction of the plant in order to save the history and the nature. As the Zilan Plain, which is also known in Kurdish as the "Gelyê Zîlan", constitute an important part of the social memory in the region, because it was the scene for thousands of Kurds were massacred back in July 14 1930. Now the Zilan Plain is faced with the plan of a hydroelectrical power plant (HEP) as the construction of the HEP has been accelerated amid the coronavirus pandemic.

REACTION AGAINST THE HEP

Ekologist Fatih Şahin told their grounds to react to the construction of the HEP. Drawing attention to that the Zilan region is very important for the Kurdish people due to the attacks in 1930, when thousand of Kurds, including women and children were slaughtered, Şahin also told that Zilan serves as the habitat of many living creatures.

"They tried to cover their traces by throwing people in the wells. Then they buit Koç Bridge Dam. And now they try to build HEPs in Gelyê Zîlan to cover the events. There is two motivations here. First is that they try yo cover the massacre, which is very important in the history of the Kurdish people and to erase it from the memories. Second is that capitalist system arrives here and steal the environmental heritage to finally destroy to nature", said Şahin, as he emphasized the historical and environmental significance of the Zilan region.

12 THOUSAND PEOPLE WILL BE AFFECTED

Şahin also shared the information on the biological diversity in the Zilan region, which is now under the threat of HEP: "This region is rich with the water resources and embraces a wide variety of plant species, including endemic plants. Zilan region is the home fore 12 thousands of people in 10 seperate villages. The construction of the HEP will affect all the living eco-system of the region and 12 thousand people. These people living in here earn their livelihood via agriculture and livestock. When the HEP  is built and the waters are taken hostage by it, people will not be able to find the water for their fields and the stockpiling will come to end. The wildlife in the plain will extinct as they won't be able to find water. As a matter of fact, they take the life captive as they take the water captive.

A THREAT FOR THE PEARL MULLETS

Pointing out to that the stream is a rich reserv for the minerals, Şahin stated the importance of the water sources for the fish population: "The fishes, known as the pearl mullets, which only live in Van Lake, migrate those time of the year and they lay their eggs in the fresh water here. When the water is first drawn by the pipes up and given back, the minerals in the water are destroyed. If the water here is not preserved in quality and in quantity, thousands of fishes will die, which already face permanent extinction".

MA / Cemil Uğur

View More Articles

18/12/2020
14:18 'We came here 9 years ago, we are no longer guests'
13:17 Hunger strike action on day 22: 9 prisoners goes on hunger strike in Urfa
13:09 Scores detained in operation based in İstanbul
13:06 Ain Issa being shelled by Turkey
10:58 Detained journalist Durgut to be taken to Van
10:14 4 journalists detained in Şırnak
10:10 Mother of a prisoner: They will resist inside and we will resist outside
17/12/2020
13:32 Attorneys did not plead in Dink case
13:13 Journalist Karataş still being held in solitary confinement
12:55 Attorneys of Öcalan submit application to visit İmralı
12:16 Protesting in front of AKP, Şenyaşar Family detained
12:13 1 Million TL fine for HDP members who protested rape suspect Musa Orhan
10:28 Hunger strikes in prisons on day 21
10:27 Sick prisoner no longer recognizes his wife and children
09:50 Leyla Güven: Termination of the isolation is the demand of millions
16/12/2020
14:06 CPJ report of journalists
14:01 Four more summaries against HDP MPs
11:36 Peace Mothers: We need peace not war
10:46 HDP member speaking Kurdish, attacked in Manisa
10:45 Hunger strike in prisons on its 20th day
10:44 Third time on hunger strike: Isolation is hostility against peace
15/12/2020
15:41 HDP files a criminal complaint against pro-government TV channel
13:49 TTB: We stand with Gökalp in his struggle
13:49 Attorneys of Öcalan submit application to visit İmralı
12:34 Mazloum Abdi condemned KDP attack
12:27 Body of HPG member detained by authorities, family wants the body of their son
11:57 Van: The city where human rights ceased to exist
10:23 'Media covering up the truth is the spokesperson of male domination'
10:16 Hunger strikes aim Öcalan's freedom
14/12/2020
16:29 Decision of continuation of arrest for 26 politicians in Kobané investigation
15:05 130 journalists arrested due to news on pandemic
13:06 Kocaköy sentenced to 9 years in prison
13:06 Trump says he will veto defense bill including sanctions on Turkey
13:05 Merceneries Turkey sent to Libya and Karabakh
11:04 HDP Women's Council: The molesters will lose their sleep
10:52 Erdoğan is ruling Federated Kurdistan
10:51 Dede: The problems can be solved by removing the isolation
11/12/2020
16:51 Prosecutor asks 15 years jail sentence for DBP co-chair Aydeniz
15:16 Families submit new application to visit İmralı
15:15 Günay: The solution demands of the hunger strikers, are our demands
12:39 63 year old sick prisoner diagnosed with Covid-19
10:49 'Ending the isolation will pave the way for social peace'
10:43 Mother who lost two sons in Cizre: My scream put humanity to shame
10:41 Car bomb explosion in Serékaniye: 2 soldiers lost their lives
10:39 Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal arrested
10/12/2020
14:58 Amedspor: We find the sensitivity regarding racism rather meaningful
14:57 HDP's Oğuz arrested by court
14:57 TUIK reduced the unemployement numbers
12:12 Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal detained in Edirne province
12:11 Attorneys of Öcalan submit application to visit İmralı