Residents of Çanakyayla (Wêrankadi), a Kurdish-majority village in Turkey’s Bitlis (Bedlîs) province, have successfully halted a solar energy project, citing ecological concerns and displacement risks, Mezopotamya Agency reported on Monday. The victory followed lobbying efforts led by the Ecology Commission of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party.
The project, planned by a company owned by Vahit Çiller, a former MP of the country’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), was scheduled to begin on 11 December. However, following a meeting with ministry officials, the environmental impact assessment process was frozen, DEM Party representatives and villagers confirmed.
Semra Çağlar Gökalp, DEM Party deputy for Bitlis, applauded the decision. “The planned site is a protected nature reserve with vital water resources. Halting this project is a victory for both the environment and the community,” she said in a statement. Gökalp highlighted that the location’s ecological sensitivity made the project untenable.
The village leader, Hikmet Karabalık, warned of the devastating impact the project would have had on the community. “This initiative would destroy our water sources and roadways, leaving 20,000 cattle without access to water and forcing residents to leave the area. Such destruction is unacceptable,” Karabalık said.
While the decision to suspend the project was celebrated, DEM MP İbrahim Akın cautioned that similar proposals might reappear. “Energy companies, often with international backing, continue to push harmful projects. Although this is a win for now, we must remain vigilant,” Akın stated.
The Çanakyayla incident reflects broader concerns in Kurdish-majority regions of Turkey, where energy and infrastructure projects have faced criticism for their ecological impact. Large-scale projects, such as the Ilısu Dam on the Tigris River, have submerged historical sites, displaced residents, and damaged ecosystems.
Additionally, deforestation and environmental degradation in areas such as Tunceli (Dersim) and Şırnak (Şirnex), often linked to military operations, have drawn condemnation from environmentalists and local communities.
The DEM Party, known for its focus on ecological and social justice, pledged continued support for communities resisting projects that threaten natural resources and public welfare. “We will stand by any community that defends their land, water, and way of life,” the party stated in a press release.
The Çanakyayla case highlights the growing tension between Turkey’s push for energy projects and local communities’ efforts to protect their environment and livelihoods. As ecological concerns intensify, the battle over sustainable development versus exploitation remains at the forefront of Turkey’s environmental struggles.
