Mayors Issue Historic Call for Gediz River Protection: 'Water's Politics is Only Its Future'

The mayors of İzmir and Manisa have issued a joint call to action against the escalating environmental pollution in the Gediz Basin. Speaking at a press conference on World Environment Day, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay and Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Besim Dutlulu stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive, basin-wide effort.

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Let's create a transparent and common roadmap based on scientific data. Let all municipalities and all relevant organizations on the basin come together. We will continue to work to protect Gediz, Manisa, and İzmir Bay.

Mayor Tugay detailed the severe threats posed by heavy metals and chemical contaminants in the Gediz River. He explained that the pollution not only endangers water resources but also compromises agricultural land, food security, and the delicate ecological balance of the İzmir Bay. "We are talking about a 401-kilometer life corridor, the Gediz, which originates from Murat Mountain and flows into the Aegean Sea," Tugay stated, emphasizing the river's critical role as an ecosystem impacting millions.

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Today we are here not to talk about administrative areas delineated by maps, but about a 401-kilometer life corridor, the Gediz, which originates from Murat Mountain and flows into the Aegean Sea.

Mayor Dutlulu expressed Manisa's readiness for collaboration, offering openness to partnerships ranging from farmer education to direct pollution reduction initiatives. "Let's create a transparent and common roadmap based on scientific data," he urged, calling for all municipalities and relevant bodies within the basin to unite. He affirmed their commitment to continuing efforts to protect the Gediz, Manisa, and İzmir Bay. Both mayors acknowledged that while they are working to identify pollution points within their jurisdictions, some elements of the Gediz River's issues fall under the purview of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, indicating a need for broader governmental involvement.

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The Gediz River, which flows cleanly from Murat Mountain, is later exposed to what? We see this. This needs to be studied in great detail.