Council accused of ‘destroying nature’
COUNCIL chiefs in Lefkoşa have been accused of “destroying” nature by using heavy machinery to clean out a stream bed teeming with life.
Clean-up efforts have been carried out by Lefkoşa Turkish Municipality (LTB) workers behind Devpa Supermarket in the Marmara area of the city.
Speaking to Cyprus Today’s sister newspaper Kıbrıs, biologist Hasan Sarpten claimed that “many wild animals and plant species” were destroyed by the council workers.
Pointing out that creeks are important to keep rain water away from the city and prevent floods, Mr Sarpten also noted that they are also places that allow cities to “breathe and maintain natural life”.
He said that any cleaning activity should be done manually or with “small grass cutting machines”.
“We have experienced many similar incidents in the past,” he said. “When we talked with the mayors for a solution, we were promised each time that it would not be repeated but, despite this, it has happened again.”
Mr Sarpten said that as well as many kinds of plants, semi-aquatic striped turtles, six kinds of snakes, frogs, turtles and fish also exist in the area.
“Water birds, which are the symbol of our country and live only in Kanlıdere, sometimes breed in these creeks. In addition, it is also the habitat of animals such as rabbits and hedgehogs.”
LTB Public Health Department head Ali Ecesoy said, however, that care had been taken not to harm wild animals while cleaning the stream bed.
He said the clean-up was necessary because of sewage leaks and because a bridge was being used to dump rubbish and debris into the waterway, creating blockages that could cause flooding.
Pointing out that workers had found fish, turtles and frogs that had died due to waste around the bridge, Mr Ecesoy said: “We continue our struggle to avoid harming living things while cleaning the creeks . . . in particular fish, as they are the number one weapon in the fight against mosquitoes.”
He stated that biological insecticide is used so as not to harm creatures. “Instead of buying chemical pesticides for 1TL, we buy and use much more expensive organic pesticides,” he added.