An investigation into multiple complaints about water service and “extortionate” charges for mains water in Esentepe has prompted investigation by the Ombudswoman and the Ministry of the Interior.
Local expats have made numerous complaints about the costs which, they say, are around three times that of other municipalities A member of the Esentepe Water Campaign for Fairness and Trust (EWCFT) which has around 600 members and who have properties awaiting connection to mains water in the Esentepe Municipality catchment area told LGC News that the group is striving for a fair and reasonable deal with the Esentepe municipality as regards connecting to mains water supplied by Turkey.
Esentepe Mayor Cemal Erdoğan has warned local residents that they must pay TL5,000 to get smart meters connected to the mains water supply. If they failed to do so, they would be prevented from purchasing water supplied by tanker, he threatened.
EWCFT has said that while everyone was happy and willing to pay a reasonable charge for water supply, no one was prepared to entertain the “massively excessive and extortionate demands of the Esentepe mayor which are more than three times what any other municipality has charged it’s constituents.” Local residents have also expressed concern about the mayor’s threats and bullying which began in 2016, they say.
Ombudswoman Emine Dizdarlı has said that following complaints from locals, an investigation was being launched into the matter. She added that she has met with Minister for the Interior Aysegul Baybars Kadri and they have unearthed a number of problems in Esentepe on this issue.
