The Didim Association, established under the leadership of city planners and architects to protect nature and control urban construction, have launched a court action over suspected digging works..
The green area in front of the residences in Saplı Island in Akbük Neighborhood was opened to hotel construction in alleged violation of the law.
When the residents of the site, who were suspicious of the works in the area, reported the situation to the Didim Association, the situation started to be investigated by the association.
As a result of the investigations, an alleged illegal zoning project was detected.
Didim Association President and city planner Filiz Çelik Hekimoğlu said: “The green area in front of the sites are located in Akbük Mahallesi Saplı Ada has been legally determined as a place suitable for use only for public benefit.
“According to the law, it is obligatory to make green areas and afforestation in the same size near this area for the public benefit.”
However, the area in question was opened for development so that a private firm could build a hotel. This zoning plan, which was made not for public interest but for rent, was approved by the ministry, although it was not in compliance with the law.
Hekimoğlu said, “The company stated in the project that they will make a new greening as much as the green area they will damage so that it is not understood that they are doing illegal business. Yes, you have to protect the green area, but you also have an obligation to do what is allowed in this area.”
A lawsuit was filed for the zoning plan dated April 20, 2021, “on the grounds that it disrupts the continuity and integrity of the existing plans, destroys access to the urban green space, and adversely affects the use of the public in the coastal area”.
In this case, a stay of execution order was issued. Hekimoğlu said, “We hastened to prevent any damage to the region and filed a lawsuit against the ministry. As a result of the lawsuit, a stay of execution decision was made. “They can’t do anything in the area right now,” he said.
However, the case has not yet been concluded. The company building the hotel has 15 days to appeal through the judiciary.
Stating that he believes they will not get a negative result as a result of the lawsuit, Hekimoğlu said: “The adopt a motion for stay of execution decision is a positive development. We will of course follow the lawsuit.
“We will do everything in our power not to allow the places that should be used for the public benefit, that is, that belong to the public and the people of Didim.”