KOCAELİ (AA) – KADİR YILDIZ – Within the scope of the project carried out to protect biodiversity in the Gulf of Izmit, an area of 211 hectares was cleared of bottom mud. “Izmit Bay Eastern Basin Bottom Sludge Cleaning, Dewatering and Disposal Project” was implemented in May 2023 in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality. At the construction site established on 70 decares in the old fairground location in Izmit, the sludge drawn with the help of ships through pipes placed in the sea is transported to the storage area after going through dredging and dewatering processes.
Within the scope of the project carried out on a total of 468 hectares, approximately 2.1 million cubic meters of mud, equivalent to 130 thousand trucks, have been cleaned from 211 hectares of land to date. While the completion rate of the works has reached 45 percent, the project, for which preparations for the 3rd stage have started, is aimed to be completed by the end of 2028. – “The aim is to remove approximately 3.8 million cubic meters of mud from the sea.” Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Protection and Control Department Head Mesut Önem told the AA correspondent that they are carrying out the “largest environmental project of Turkey and Europe”.
Önem stated that the project aims to remove approximately 3.8 million cubic meters of mud from the easternmost part of Izmit Bay and noted that the second phase of the project is continuing. Önem stated that an area the size of 300 football fields has been cleaned so far and continued: “We are making preparations for the 3rd stage of the project. We have biodiversity monitoring activities in the area we have cleaned.
We are monitoring the region with Istanbul University Faculty of Aquatic Sciences. We see that there are serious developments. In the past months, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sarı (Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University Maritime Faculty Lecturer) and our Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükakın dived in the region. We both saw the developments and recorded them.” As we clean the area, the ecosystem responds positively to us. “Creatures that lived in the past began to come to life again here.” – “We all have to act together to protect the environment” Explaining that, as Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, they carry out control, inspection and scientific monitoring activities in the Gulf of Izmit, Önem stated that they protect the sea with the work they do with the barriers they set up in the streams, sea sweepers and amphibious vehicles, as well as bottom mud cleaning.
Önem emphasized that protecting the environment is not only the duty of public institutions today, and said that they have to act together with industrial organizations, universities, non-governmental organizations and citizens. Pointing out that the success of cities will be measured not only by what they produce but also by the natural values they can protect, Önem said, “Protected sea, clean air, healthy soil and sustainably managed natural resources will be the most valuable legacy we will leave to future generations.
On the occasion of June 5, World Environment Day, I would like to express once again that all our citizens should be more sensitive about the environment. “We need to continue working together for a cleaner, more livable and more sustainable future.” he said.
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