Özgür Ferhat brings the water problem to the parliament agenda
In his press statement regarding the parliamentary question, Ferhat said: "The drinking water problems in Kozlukebir - Sirkeli, Yassıköy, Maronya - Şapçı and many villages belonging to the Municipality of Komotini, which are connected to the province of Rhodope, especially in the summer months, make the people of the region unhappy and restless."
The following statements were made in the statement on the subject:
"With the parliamentary question, submitted under the leadership of New Left Party Rodopi MP Özgür Ferhat, the problems in the drinking water systems and networks of the villages in the province of Rodopi and in the infrastructure used for irrigation of the fields were expressed.
In Kozlukebir - Sirkeli, Yassıköy, Maronya - Şapçı and many villages belonging to Komotini Municipality, especially in the summer months, the drinking water shortages in Kozlukebir - Sirkeli, Yassıköy, Maronya - Şapçı and many villages belonging to Komotini Municipality, which are connected to the province of Rodopi, make the people of the region unhappy and restless.
Stating that the daily lives of the citizens continue in great negativities, Ferhat stated that when extreme heat and drought are added to this situation, unbelievable problems arise and asked for a solution to this serious issue as soon as possible.
The problem is multifaceted, the old boreholes and distribution systems that have not been replaced with new ones for years are now at the point of collapse, the old water networks are inadequate and malfunctioning, surface and underground water resources do not provide sufficient water, local governments cannot meet such an urgent situation due to limited human and funding resources.
It is evident that due to prolonged water shortages, village residents are not only deprived of drinking water, but are also unable to meet their sanitation, hygiene and daily living needs, and businesses are suffering economic losses. For example, in Sapci and Yassıköy districts, Bekirli, Arabacikoy, Chepelli, Buyuk Musellim, Kalfa, many villages of Kozlukebir Municipality, residents are without water for hours or even whole days.
Hundreds of farmers in the 4 municipalities of the Rhodope province are struggling with the drought caused by the extreme heat and are in danger of losing this year's crops due to the inadequacy of the irrigation systems, stressing that their efforts have been in vain.
The people of Rhodope, who are struggling with thirst, drought and excessive costs, are deprived of water supply, which is the source of life and the obligation of the public to the citizens, despite the fact that they pay their taxes and public payments in full.
For these reasons, we request the authorised ministries to answer the questions below.
1. Do you have any efforts to solve the water problem of thousands of people?
2. Do you have any planning and implementation to seek solutions from EU or State budget programmes?
3. Do you have any plans to replace old drinking water lines and borehole storage systems by financing the Local Authorities?"
4. Do the local authorities in Rhodope Province have any projects related to this issue?
5. Do you have any plans to appoint permanent staff to the relevant institutions and municipalities?"
