IMM President Ekrem İmamoğluopened the new service building built by İSKİ with an investment of 35 million liras in Çatalca within the scope of the “150 Projects in 150 Days” marathon. Speaking at the opening of the service building that will serve approximately 75 thousand people, İmamoğlu drew attention to the economic difficulties posed to İSKİ. Pointing out that İSKİ is in the last place among the big cities in Turkey in terms of service cost, İmamoğlu said, “While İSKİ's water bill was around 200 million TL in January, -I'm ashamed to say it in old money, 200 trillion TL- currently the monthly water bill is 600 million TL. approached a million dollars. In other words, we are struggling with such a huge hike,” he said. Saying, “Some people say that water money is a huge burden on people,” İmamoğlu said, “When we took office, your water bills and electricity bills were almost the same. Look at the electricity bill with the water bill coming to your home today; almost one-fifth to one-sixth. So is the water bill free? Not free water. Then electricity is also free. Electricity is also made from water flowing from hydroelectric power plants. But it is not. Water also comes here with money," he said. Sharing the information that they will propose an additional budget for İSKİ to the IMM Assembly, which will convene next week, İmamoğlu said, “İSKİ's budget, İSKİ's tariff is non-political. It is the work of pouring water from the tap of our nation. In this context, I wish all political parties that have a group in the Assembly to act sensitively and to be careful about excluding İSKİ from these concepts. Let them not embarrass themselves. And I wish them to take rational budget decisions that befit Istanbul and our nation.”
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) President Ekrem İmamoğlu, opened the new İSKİ Çatalca Service Building, the construction of which started on April 16, 2020, on September 150, as part of the “150 Projects in 9 Days” marathon. İmamoğlu made a speech at the opening of the service building in Ferhatpaşa Mahallesi, which will serve approximately 75 thousand citizens. Reminding that September 9 is both the liberation of İzmir from the enemy occupation and the 99th anniversary of the Republican People's Party (CHP), İmamoğlu said, “The first moment I decided on politics, I was committed to our nation, our Republic, Atatürk's principles and revolutions. In the 99th year of my party, which I started out with saying, 'I will also do politics,' I am proud and honored to serve our ancient city of Istanbul, and to struggle to do things that our nation would be proud of, as a CHP member. As a CHP member, as a son of the CHP, I have always expressed this: Being a party member means fulfilling your duty to serve your nation. To be a good party, to be a good party; Giving the right to be a party member means this. Being a member of a party, doing everything on behalf of the party is not an understanding that every way is permissible. Being a member; it means to protect and develop the sanctities of the nation, the state and the Republic, not of that party. In this context, it should not be forgotten that parties are a tool for service and the main thing is the survival of our state and nation.
“WE MASTERED A NEW MANAGEMENT APPROACH AT IMM”
Pointing out that Istanbul is a city racing against time, İmamoğlu emphasized that the city has neglected and delayed problems. Emphasizing that these problems can be solved by using the opportunities well and acting quickly, İmamoğlu said, “Managing Istanbul is only possible with high energy. I would like to underline that we have been managing Istanbul for 3 years with a new perspective, a new understanding of management and, for sure, that spiritual strength and great energy we have received from you. We are focused on producing faster work and getting faster results with all our units.” Noting that the “150 Projects in 150 Days” marathon is an example for his work, İmamoğlu said, “We will continue to exceed 150 projects in the next 150 days. Because now we have dominated a new management approach in IMM. What is this? A management approach that is free from waste, discrimination and nepotism. It's not 'I'm in power, whatever I say happens'; It is not a mayor who comes to Çatalca and says 'Çatalca Municipality is not from our party' and does not pass by his door. He became a speaking metropolitan mayor. And we will continue to be. By the way, let me tell you; If we have an event in this or similar district, we definitely invite the mayor of that district. We've done it here too. Whether they come or not, of course, is up to them. We also give them the right to speak when they come. They go out and express their feelings here. We will continue to give it," he said.
“WE KNOW THAT THIS MANAGEMENT, THIS CHAIR BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE”
“We know that this administration, this seat belongs to the people; just as we know that the seat of our friend, who was elected this term in Çatalca, belongs to the people," said İmamoğlu and continued his speech with the following words:
“Our friend, the mayor of Çatalca, also represents his nation. I also represent our nation. If he says, 'No, I'm just representing my party…' that is something else. We do not say that, we do not accept it. We invite you wherever we go. I am not saying this for Çatalca, I am saying it for 39 of 39 districts. Mr. Hasan Akgün is known in Büyükçekmece. I was the mayor of Beylikdüzü for 5 years. I know that; unfortunately we were neither invited nor visited for 5 years. Isn't it very painful? I say this with sadness. I'll tell him. It's very painful. So we do the opposite. And because we do this, certain segments, not just certain regions, certain villages, certain neighborhoods; We are a management whose philosophy is to serve all. There is service, solution and production for all corners of Istanbul under our management. There are metro lines in 150 projects, there are also huge green areas. There are also treatment plants. There are also major infrastructure projects. We also have kindergartens that never existed. We have student dormitories. We also have libraries, health centers, sports facilities. Parking lots, streets, square arrangements… There is a process of realizing the projects that Istanbul deserves. Of course, there is an understanding that protects our spirituality and also preserves our heritage with its historical monuments, mosques and some similar walls that have been entrusted to us. We also have facilities that both provide employment and stand by our citizens in difficult times, from the New Public Bread Factory to the City Restaurants. We have projects that will facilitate and beautify the lives of Istanbulites in every aspect and add value to every part of Istanbul.”
“İSKİ INVESTED 600 MILLION TL ONLY IN ÇATALCA”
Expressing that the projects were started and finished before their term, İmamoğlu conveyed his thanks to every person, institution and organization who contributed in this sense. İmamoğlu, who made a special paragraph for İSKİ in his speech, said, “İSKİ is a very special institution of our Metropolitan Municipality and our city, established with a special law. It is an institution that should be kept out of politics and daily discussions and debates.” Stating that İSKİ is trying to implement its projects by struggling with great difficulties, İmamoğlu said, “In this process, it has invested almost 600 million liras in Çatalca alone. During this period. Such an institution should be cherished. It must be protected. A large part of the income of İSKİ, apart from the very small share it receives from the central administration, is water bills. İSKİ does not only offer you water with its water bill. It also protects watersheds. It also protects our dams where water accumulates. At the same time, it cleans our accumulated water and delivers clean water to you. It provides drinking water from your faucet. At the same time, wastewater comes out of our homes. This cleans the wastewater and after it is cleaned, it is used either by recycling but in industry but sometimes in irrigation. Or, with the discharge of the cleaned wastewater into the sea, İSKİ provides all these services in order to complete the process without harming the nature again”.
“SOMEONE SAYS WATER MONEY IS A HUGE BAD TO PEOPLE”
Reminding that the IMM Assembly abolished the system that gave İSKİ a monthly increase according to the WPI-CPI after they took office, İmamoğlu said, “Why did he remove it? 'Sir, why do you want a discount? Get discount. But we also abolish your raise procedure.' Why? 'We are the majority in parliament. You will give us a raise, we will decide.' Well, let it be. No matter how many times we brought it, fifty excuses, a hundred excuses about water… Most of the times they didn't. Very few times, there have been meaningless hikes, etc., according to their minds,” he said. Pointing out that İSKİ is in the last place among metropolitan cities in Turkey in terms of service cost, İmamoğlu gave examples of Melen and Terkos. Saying, “Some people say that water money is a huge burden on people,” İmamoğlu said, “Let me tell all of our citizens: When we took office, your water bills and electricity bills were almost the same. Look at the electricity bill with the water bill coming to your home today; almost one-fifth to one-sixth. So is the water bill free? Not free water. Then electricity is also free. Electricity is also made from water flowing from hydroelectric power plants. But it is not. Water also comes here with money. How is it coming? Let me give you an example. Not one year, two years, three years. Look, İSKİ's water bill was around 200 million liras in January, -I'm ashamed to say it in old money, 200 trillion liras- currently the monthly water bill is close to 600 million liras. In other words, we are struggling with such a huge hike,” he said.
“ISKI'S BUDGET AND TARIFF IS NON-political”
Sharing the information that they will propose an additional budget for İSKİ to the IMM Assembly, which will convene next week, İmamoğlu said, “İSKİ's budget, İSKİ's tariff is non-political. It is the work of pouring water from the tap of our nation. In this context, I wish all political parties that have a group in the Assembly to act sensitively and to be careful about excluding İSKİ from these concepts. In this respect, next week, İSKİ has a healthy budget and serves our nation. Look, yesterday İSKİ was governed by another political party. Today, İSKİ is governed by another political party. But look, I have bureaucrat friends here. My General Manager, my assistant general managers, my department heads… They know themselves. At least 80 percent, 90 percent are our friends from the previous period. The working officer of the nation is not the officer of the party, he is the officer of the nation. Therefore, these friends of ours, who are civil servants of the state, see this mistake. Just as every citizen who has been in a rush for justice from past to present sees it, those precious officials of our state also see it. I mean the political parties that have a group in the parliament. Let them not embarrass themselves. And I wish them to take rational budget decisions that befit Istanbul and our nation.”
BAŞA: “ÇATALCA WILL GET A HEALTHY INFRASTRUCTURE”
Stating that they are happy to bring the third new İSKİ service building to Çatalca after Esenler and Zeytinburnu, İSKİ General Manager Şafak Başa noted that the construction, which started on April 16, 2020, was completed with an investment of 35 million TL. Noting that as İSKİ, they realized important projects in Çatalca in 3 years, Başa said, “To put it briefly; we have built a new 61 kilometers long drinking water line and 34 kilometers long wastewater and rain water lines throughout the district. The total of these investments is approximately three hundred and fifty million liras. We continue to build 110 kilometers of drinking water lines and 9 kilometers of wastewater and rain water lines with an investment of approximately 18 million liras. Thus, the total of our completed and ongoing investments, our Çatalca investments, has exceeded 45 million liras. In addition, we plan to invest 190 kilometers of new infrastructure throughout the district. Regarding this, our friends have completed their projects. We hope to make the tender as soon as possible. With all these investments, our Çatalca district will have a healthy infrastructure for a healthy future.
OLD BUILDING DESTROYED DUE TO EARTHQUAKE RISK
After the speeches, İmamoğlu opened the facility together with CHP Istanbul deputy Emine Gülizar Emecan, Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün and İSKİ General Manager Başa. The old İSKİ service building in Çatalca was demolished due to the earthquake risk. Construction of the new building started on April 16, 2020. The new building was taken from the district entrance to the district entrance, providing relief in urban traffic. The new building will serve with its 40-car parking lot. In the district, İSKİ has 40 thousand subscribers. BUILT as 4 floors, the building has an area of approximately 3 acres. The building will serve more than 75 people living in the region.
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