Leyla KÜRKÜT - JINHA

AMED – One of the victims of the HEPP, which is rapidly continued to build in Turkey, is Pasûr,a district  of Amed  . One of the women from Pasûr, Fatma Cengiz says'' the  water problem ,created by HEPP, is mostly forcing women.We  carry  water by going for miles and  miles. The men do not find themselves convenient to carry water.’’ Beyhan Cengiz,taking attention that diseases heve been increased after the  implementation of HEPP and she said '' The water is undrinkable and  who drinks water become ill. But, using clean water is wearing  down us both material and spiritual aspects.”

Hydro Power Plants (HEPP) projects, whose contruction are accelerated in recent years, causes public outrage. HEPPs, which are continued to be implemented on the grounds of the need for electricty  with regardless of eligibility and qualifications,shows itself in Pasûr (Kulp), the district of Amed. The implementation of nearly 2 thousand planned projects about HEPP  led to public outrage because these projects are implemented without meeting with public and NGOs. Also  this causes spiritual and material losses.

‘The diseases began with HEPP’

Fatma Cengiz,from Pasûr,says;'' Before HEPP project we did not have any problem with tap water. We could drink the tap water. But after HEPP, as if it is the  mud that  flowing from the tap. Fatma, who expressed that they use the muddy water only watering  garden,says this muddy water give serious damage to environment , fish and trees. Fatma says  there are only source waters as clean water and she touches on that achieving this water is too difficult. In addition, Fatma says  women have to struggle with the water problem , which was caused by HEPP,  and she underlines that men do not find carrying water appropriate for them. Fatma '' we've  collected signatures against the HEPP projects , we've organized sessions''said. she stressed '' because of the lack of supporters these initiatives resulted in inconclusive.

 Beyhan Cengiz, who took attention to diseases have been increased  after the implementation of HEPP, expressed their problems as follows:’’ The water is undrinkable and who drinks it become ill. But, using clean water is wearing  down us both material and spiritual aspects. somebody  lease cars to carry water and somebody buy water from market.’’

‘We want back our clean water’

Fatoş Cengiz says that after the HEPP project the district greatly damaged and everybody have to carry water from old to women and children. She also says that the victimization of the old people make us unhappy and illnesses have started, at the same time these illnesses effected to the youngs and children . Fatoş,'' Since water have begun to flow muddy from taps we could not drink water from our tap. Who have car started to bring water from near villages , and who do not have car started to bring water from mosques. There are people who have to carry water from a distance of 3 kms. She adds the expectations of the people of Pasûr is these problems to be resolved. and she says'' Again we want clean water from our taps''.

‘99 percent of the problems concern  women’

Town council Cevahir Polat says;'' HEPP give damage to ecological balance, it also led to victimization of people.'' Cevahir, who expressed that 99 percent of water problem concern women, she also underlined that it is the woman  who make cleaning, carrying water and cooking. Cevahir says that;  in the spring people were  often went to the side of the rill to make picnic, but because of the water pollution and bad smell nobody go there anymore

Cevahir, who said even though they have given the necessary struggle they could not prevent the HEPP, adds their situation have to go on this way until clean water flow from their taps. Cevahir, “As a municipality we will perform our clean water project. Thus the problem of clean water will be solved. Clean water work , will be given the tender in June. The water , that we will get from the combination of three sources,will be presented healty and regularly to the public .'' says.

Photo – Camera: Leyla Kürküt

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Translator: Roje GULÇÎÇEK