"New Bill Threatens Local Governance"

TMMOB claimed the new bill proposal to be unconstitutional and against the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

"We are calling the president Gül to veto the bill intended to decimate the governance system, facilitate the exploitation of environment and permit excessive land sales to foreigners," TMMOB said.

Number of Municipalities Lessen by 60 Percent

Some highlights from the TMMOB declaration:

* There were 3,228 municipalities in Turkey in 2000, whereas the number was diminished by 60 percent now, to 1,384.

* The legal entity of 29 provincial administration units, 1,591 resorts and 16,082 villages will be abolished.

* 13 new metropolitan municipalities will be formed; the total number of metropolitan municipalities will rise to 29.

Harder to provide infrastructure

* The new bill will make it harder for municipalities to provide services to far neighborhoods, raising costs for basic services like water and sewerage.

* The new bill to enlarge municipalities' legal power will not necessarily bring more services to neighborhoods. Harsh challenges on logistics are envisioned.

Poverty will soar

* The new bill will strip villagers from their rights to decide concerning their environment and cause the limited agriculture to disappear completely. The villages became exploitation areas for municipalities.

* Villagers will have to pay for the infrastructure services and the poverty will soar. The new bill also allowed excessive land sales to foreigners. (NV)