Turkey’s Samsun Metropolitan Municipality reduced the price of drinking water by 15 percent before the March election in a bid to gain votes.
However the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Water and Sewerage Administration (SASKİ) Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Water and Sewerage Administration (SASKİ) this week increased the price by 25 percent.
Samsun municipality, run the city located on the north coast of Turkey with a population of over half a million people, also increased the water meter reading price by 150 percent. The price hike proposal was accepted by the city council.
The price of drinking water has effectively increased by 6.25 percent compared to the end of last year.
“We tried our best for not to victimize citizens such as the retired, low-income, minimum-wage citizens. We’re all human. It is for Allah to create (water) from nothing. I wish I couldn’t come up with such an agenda. But I can’t step back from making this decision.,” Samsun Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Demir told the local media.
Demir’s religious remark received high criticism from the Turkish public.
The city is run by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). However, the opposition CHP, GOOD Party and Felicity Party members in the council opposed the 25 percent price hike but AKP’s municipality managed to pass the law.
SASKI General Director Fatih Yıldız defended the price hike saying that the 15 percent price reduction approved by the city council earlier in the year but now had to increase it because of the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration and SASKI regulations.
Turkey’s economy fell into its first recession in a decade at the end of last year and the highest price increases in April was seen in food and non-alcoholic beverages, up 31.86 percent on a yearly basis.
The post Uproar as Turkish municipality increases water price by 25 percent appeared first on IPA NEWS.
from IPA NEWS https://ipa.news/2019/05/24/uproar-as-turkish-municipality-increases-water-price-by-25-percent/
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