Green Peace Movement President Feriha Tel has voiced serious concerns about the proliferation of illegal buildings in İskele (Trikomo), highlighting broader issues of urban planning and governance in North Cyprus.
Tel identifies the lack of comprehensive planning as the country’s most pressing problem. She emphasizes the urgency of heeding expert warnings about potential earthquake risks in Cyprus, suggesting that current construction practices may be exacerbating these dangers.
According to Tel, numerous reports of illegal structures in İskele have been brought to the attention of authorities. However, she claims that both the local government and the City Planning Department have failed to address these violations adequately. This alleged oversight points to a significant weakness in the enforcement of building regulations.
Tel argues for immediate government action to register all illegal buildings, viewing this as an essential step towards addressing the issue. She expresses frustration with the prolonged delay of the İskele (Trikomo), Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios), Famagusta Development Plan, describing it as a “snake story” – an idiom suggesting a never-ending tale.
The Green Peace Movement president also criticizes the practice of issuing building permits overnight, which she believes has allowed some illegal construction to slip through unnoticed. Tel reports instances where buildings constructed without proper permissions were later treated as if they were legal, despite months of prior notifications about their illegality.
Tel poses pointed questions about why illegal construction continues to occur if there are clear legislative guidelines for proper building practices. She wonders about the motivations of those who turn a blind eye to these violations, suggesting that this problem is visibly growing and becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Source: (Diyalog)
