Constitutional Court halts legislation exempting companies from environmental obligations

ISTANBUL

Istanbul's third bridge is also included among the projects that were exmpted from the submission of ÇED reports, according to the controversial amendment.

Turkey’s Constitutional Court halted July 5 a legal amendment that exempted companies from preparing an environmental impact assessment report (ÇED) on dozens of gigantic projects that have drawn controversy for their potential damage to nature.

The law adopted last year by Parliament lifted the obligation to submit an impact assessment report for projects which “have been included in the financial investment program prior to 1997.”

According to environmental activists, those included projects such as Istanbul’s third bridge, the controversial Ilısu Dam that will submerge the UNESCO world heritage town of Hasankeyf and several other hydroelectric plant (HES) projects on small streams across the country.

Activists had organized numerous campaigns to halt the legislation last year, arguing that the amendment on the Environment Law violated several international conventions.

The ÇED exemption on the projects within the scope of the amendment will be canceled upon the top court’s ruling.