416 post-disaster assembly areas in Istanbul used as buildings: TESK President

ISTANBUL

Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK) President Bendevi Palandöken has said 416 of the 493 places designated as post-disaster assembly areas in Istanbul are currently being used as shopping malls, skyscrapers and luxury residences.

Palandöken said the increasing number of shopping malls in Turkey have not only harmed the fabric of the cities, but have also become a threat to human life.

“Citizens are in danger when there are shopping malls built on earthquake assembly areas. A regulation should be issued for this,” the TESK president said in a statement on Oct. 7.

“Places designated as green space or health facilities are being converted to profit-making areas by a change in zoning plans and such examples are increasing [every day]. The number of shopping malls has risen from 14 to 411 [in Turkey] in the last 15 years and 43 more are expected to be built in the upcoming year,” he said.

“Shopping malls exist in 71 provinces of Turkey. After Istanbul, the city that has the most number of shopping malls is Ankara with 39. And the construction of nine more shopping malls is continuing in Ankara. Changes in zoning plans need to be made by the court. Otherwise, Turkey will turn into an even bigger shopping mall dumping site than the U.S.,” said Palandöken.

Our national wealth should not go in waste. Rules should be brought for the opening of shopping malls and these rules need to be executed completely,” he said.