Illegal structures on Fırtına Valley riverbed to be demolished, ministry says

RİZE – Demirören News Agency

The Turkish Environment and Urbanization Ministry has determined that nine illegal structures on the riverbed of Fırtına (storm in English) Valley in the Black Sea province of Rize will be demolished.

The tender for the demolishment will be held on Nov. 2

The ministry had previously ordered the demolition of all illegal structures on the riverbed of the steep-sided, beautifully green river valley. Now they have designated the structures that will be demolished initially.

Despite the ministry’s decision however, illegal constructions on the riverbed were reported to be ongoing.

The director general of the ministry’s infrastructure and urban transformation services unit had previously called on citizens not to continue building such illegal structures.

“We have seen that the construction of sealed buildings in the Fırtına Valley is ongoing. We call on our citizens with sincerity from here and warn them for their own benefit: Do not continue to undertake these constructions, because there is no obstacle for these buildings to be demolished. We have taken a demolishment decision for these. I ask them not to invest in them,” Vedat Gürgen, the director general, had previously said.

Fırtına Valley is one of the most important natural areas of Turkey. It is among the 200 ecological zones that must be protected in the world.

The 57-kilometer-long valley has always been a popular destination for both local and international tourists with its high flow and the bridges accompanying it all over its course. The river is very popular for canoeing and rafting all year round.

In the valley, tourists also have a chance to see the graceful arched stone bridges built in the early Ottoman times and the wooden hillside mansions built in the early 20th century by families.