The fact that the project, which will also contribute greatly to the economy, has not been completed yet causes questions, and it was a matter of curiosity why the GAP was not completed while crazy projects were planned to be carried out despite their costs.
DEMİREL'S WORD "GAPTIRMAM" IS STILL IN MEMORIES
GAP, which is seen as one of the most important projects in Turkey, was introduced to the public as one of the 9 largest projects in the world in 1989, when it actually started to be built and covers the provinces of Adıyaman, Batman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Kilis, Mardin, Siirt, Şanlıurfa and Şırnak. For the project, which was planned as a total of 13 project packages for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation in the Euphrates-Tigris basin, it was aimed 22 dams, 19 hydroelectric power plants and approximately 3.8 million hectares of agricultural land to irrigate. While the cost of the project, in which many projects are integrated, is targeted as $36 billion, the new cost of the project is expected to exceed $40 billion. While the project is aimed to be completed in 2010 according to the master plan, especially in the 1980s and 90s, among the politicians of the period, the discussion of “Who is the owner of the project?” had begun. Süleyman Demirel, one of the politicians of the period, claimed that he was the real owner of the project by saying “GAPTIRMAM”.
THE PROMISES MADE DURING THE AKP PERIOD ARE NOT KEPT
The Justice and Development Party (AKP), which boasts with its "crazy" and "mega" projects in recent years, did not keep its promises regarding the GAP. Prime Minister of the time, Erdoğan, in his statements in Diyarbakır in 2008, announced that the project would be completed in 5 years and ended in 2013. Although he noted that the project would be completed in two years, during the rally he held in Şanlıurfa in 2017, after the promise made about the project was not kept, this time, the project could not be completed even though it has been almost 6 years since the promise was made.
157 BILLION TL INVESTED IN THE PROJECT
Although the resources allocated to the project were increased in the central budget during the AKP rule, it was not enough. Over 20 years of government, an investment of more than 157 billion Turkish Liras (TL) was made. Although GAP was not completed, its contribution to the country's budget was more than its cost. While the revenue generated from the energy investments exceeded 30 billion dollars, it was observed that it exceeded 14 billion dollars in irrigation. In the economic picture seen, it was seen that the GAP earned an income above its cost, and it was also seen that this income was not allocated for the completion of the project.
ONLY 58 PERCENT OF IRRIGATION CHANNELS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED IN 36 YEARS
The importance of agriculture, whose strategic importance has increased during the pandemic period, which has affected the whole world, is increasing with the effect of climate change. In our country, which experiences temperatures above the seasonal norms in winter, warnings are made that a food crisis may occur with the increase of the danger of drought. In recent years, with the increasing drought in the Southeastern Anatolia Region, losses have occurred in products such as wheat, barley, and red lentils. Compared to the previous year, the level of drought in the region has increased significantly, and more than 90 percent the losses may occur in agricultural products. While warnings come that a major food crisis is on the way if the forecasts come true, the question is asked why the GAP has still not been completed. 2,1 million hectares of agricultural land, especially the Harran Plain, cannot be used effectively due to the inability to complete the irrigation canals. The construction of irrigation canals in the project, which lasted more than 36 years, still remained at the level of 58 percent.
4 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE HOPE OF JOBS
Within the scope of the Southeastern Anatolia Project, it was aimed that 4 million people in the region have a job, and thus, it was aimed to prevent migration to big cities. However, while it is seen that the project currently employs 133 thousand people, millions of people were forced to migrate to metropolitan cities because they could not find a job. It is stated that if the project is completed, millions of people will be able to have a job in their own cities, and this will reduce the problems experienced in big cities.
RESOURCES ALLOCATED THIS YEAR STAYED AT THE LEVELS OF 213 MILLION TL
The term of office of the GAP Regional Administration Development Presidency, which operates under the Ministry of Industry and Technology, ends at the end of this year. The budget of the presidency, whose term of office is expected to be extended by the decision of the President, is insufficient considering the size of the project. 146,5 million in 2018, 88,1 million in 2019, 87,9 million in 2020 were allocated to the project, while the budget given in 2023 remained at the level of 213 million. With the allocated figures, the project is not expected to be completed in a short time, but it is curious when the GAP, which will make a great contribution to the country's agriculture and socio-economy, will be completed.