DİYARBAKIR-The court, which has sent a commission of experts to Suriçi as a result of actions of objection, has decided to send a commission of experts to Hevsel Gardens and Tigris Valley, which have been declared as special project area by the statutory decree (KHK).

 

The demolition, which continues with ongoing curfews and blockade for over two years, goes on in many neighborhoods of Diyarbakır’s Sur district. The government has taken the urgent expropriation decision for Sur. Then the government has taken a similar decision for Tigris Valley and 8000-year-old Hevsel Gardens. Tigris Valley and Hevsel Gardens have been declared as special project area in accordance with the 239th article of law no.644 of KHK and with the approval of Ministry of Environment and Urbanization in December 28, 2016. As no information is given to anyone about the project stages of the suspended project, a mosque has been built next to Ten Arches Bridge right after the groundbreaking works at the second stage.

 

Diyarbakır Chamber of City Planners opened a case saying “Hevsel Gardens will be opened to construction” and rejected the project right after the project was temporarily suspended. The court, responded to objection after the ending of first stage, will send a commission of experts to Hevsel Gardens and Tigris Valley.

 

‘We don’t know what will happen at next stages’

 

Diyarbakır Branch Co-chairman of Chamber of City Planners, Büşra Cizrelioğulları Sadak recalled that the government hasn’t sent a commission of experts to Hevsel Gardens and Tigris Valley yet; however, this delegation was sent to Suriçi. Stating that they have initiated case procedure, Büşra said “They have actualized the building mosque in an area, which they call it as a first stage. We see that we are right to be concerned about now. We don’t know what they will do at the second stage.” Stating that a commission of experts will be sent to Hevsel Gardens and Tigris Valley, “This is very valuable decision but we don’t know when the discovery will be carried out.”