Turkey has approved development plans for a huge canal on the edge of Istanbul, advancing a project which has attracted criticism regarding its cost and environmental impact.
As Reuters reports, this development comes a year after Turkey held its first tender for the reconstruction of two historic bridges in its largest city where the 45km Kanal Istanbul is set to be created.
Commenting on the creation of the canal, Environment Minister Murat Kurum, said that Turkey has approved the Kanal Istanbul Project and put it out for public consultation.
The canal will connect the Black Sea north of Istanbul to the Marmara Sea to the south and is estimated to cost $9.2 billion.
Turkey hopes this canal to ease shipping traffic on the Bosphorus Strait, and prevent accidents similar to that this week on the Suez Canal.
However, the canal has drawn criticism from those who say it will damage the environment and pollute fresh water resources.
Specifically, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, strongly opposes to the project, saying that spending resources on the canal while Turkey combats the coronavirus outbreak is “mind boggling.”
