Mayor Erdem Hüseyin warns: Heavy penalties for using drinking water for irrigation in Kozlukebir

The Mayor of Kozlukebir, Erdem Hüseyin, has announced new restrictions on the use of drinking water for agricultural irrigation, aiming to curb misuse and preserve dwindling water resources during the dry summer season.

Effective Monday, July 28, until August 31, irrigation using water from designated public fountains will only be allowed between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.. The mayor warned that strict monitoring will be carried out across all villages, and deterrent penalties will be imposed on those who violate the rules. He also stated that any public taps found being used outside of permitted hours would be shut off immediately.

In a public message, Mayor Hüseyin urged residents to inform their village communities and cooperate with municipal teams.

“Please help us by informing your fellow villagers. Our teams will be conducting inspections in all villages, and violations will not be tolerated,” he said.

Opposition Reaction: “This Decision Was Made Overnight”
The opposition UMUT list, led by Tarkan Multaza, strongly criticized the decision, claiming it was made without consulting the municipal council or informing opposition members.

Multaza condemned the lack of prior planning and transparency:

“We’ve been calling for joint meetings to solve the water crisis since last year, but those requests were ignored. Now, you impose restrictions overnight without even defining the penalties or informing local representatives.”

In a harshly worded statement, the UMUT (HOPE) list accused the municipality of “performing on social media while failing to take meaningful action.” They questioned how limited municipal staff working only until 3:00 p.m. could enforce the rules across more than 50 villages.

“Villages without drinking water have been turned into PR tools, as if you’ve launched them into the space age,” the statement read.

“Stop blaming the public and start taking responsibility. And if you can't manage, admit it—because sometimes stepping down is also an Erdem (virtue).”

The water shortage issue continues to spark local controversy as communities in Western Thrace grapple with long-standing infrastructure and supply challenges.