The channel that Erdogan wants to excavate in Istanbul worries the experts

After being frozen for about a year due to the economic crisis, the Turkish president withdrew from his message his "crazy idea". He said it would ease the burden on the Bosphorus, but the mayor, who is backed by environmental activists and architects, believes that the damage will be higher than the benefit

The channel that Erdogan wants to excavate in Istanbul worries the experts

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has revived plans to dig a canal at the edge of Istanbul, despite the opposition of hundreds of petitioners and the new mayor of the huge project, which is supposed to set Turkey's economic leap. The venture, which is estimated to cost about £ 75 billion ($ 12.6 billion), was actually halted last year due to the economic recession.

In recent weeks, however, Erdogan has reasserted the project to its top priority. Canal Istanbul, which is 45 km long, is a concern for environmental and architectural experts. The canal, which is 400 meters wide, is to be excavated in western Istanbul and connect the Black Sea to the North of the Marmara, which in fact connects to the Mediterranean. In the Bosphorus Straits, which naturally overlook the largest city in Turkey.

It was only Friday that a freighter hit a shipwreck in Bosphorus, one of the busiest sailing routes in the world. It was a rare accident of its kind, which Erdogan claims would have been avoided if there was already a ditch. Turkey's president says the canal will protect the Bosphorus, describing it as a venture "to save the environment." He first mentioned the idea in 2011, calling it his "crazy idea."

It is unknown where he will get the funding for the canal. Erdogan (Photo: Reuters)

Turkish President Erdogan at King's Speech in Gaza, Turkey December 27, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

Last year, due to a drop in the pound's value, Ankara stagnated its investments in large infrastructure projects, but last month Erdogan withdrew its initiative. This contrasts with the position of Istanbul's new mayor, Akram Imamolo, a member of the main opposition party. Imamuolo, who is considered a possible presidential candidate in the future after winning over Erdogan in this year's election, has positioned himself as the main opponent of the project. He said its cost is too high and it will cause environmental destruction.

Istanbul's rapid growth and green space shortages are a source of great concern among residents. Plans to demolish Gaseous Park sparked huge protests in 2013. The canal's outline is set to pass through a lagoon, whose ecosystem - vital to marine and migratory birds - will be destroyed, according to warnings from the Association of Engineers and Architects of Turkey. The union says the canal will destroy two basins that provide about a third of the city's clean water; Increase the salinity of groundwater; Do damage to partial land; And increase the levels of oxidation in the Black Sea water.

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Map - Istanbul Canal (Photo: Official Website)

The canal is the latest initiative in a series of giant infrastructure projects promoted by Erdogan in his 17-year reign, which he funded primarily through cheap foreign credit that led to the economic boom.

It is still unclear how it will be funded. The government has introduced a Build-to-Past (BOT) model, but in its absence, it should use its budget. In private conversations, bankers have raised concerns about the possibility of large Turkish investors financing the venture. In September, six local banks signed a UN initiative requiring them to look at the impact of the canal on society and the environment before agreeing to fund it.

For Russia, Ukraine and other Black Sea countries, the canal raises questions about freedom of navigation and transport of goods through it. The 1936 Montero Treaty gave Turkey control over the Egyptians within its borders, and it secured access to civilian vessels during peacetime. The treaty also limits the deployment of battleships to prevent black sea militarization. However, a Turkish official said Thursday that the treaty would not cover the canal.

"The Istanbul Canal may open the door to American warships in the Black Sea. That's the fear in Moscow," said Sinan Ulgan, a former Turkish diplomat and visiting fellow at the Carnegie Institute.

Fear of ecosystem destruction. Protest against the canal (Photo: Reuters)

Demonstration against a massive canal project in Istanbul, Turkey, December 27, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)