Hundreds of people inIstanbul have signed petitions in the past two days opposing a massive canalproject championed by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, which they saywill wreak environmental havoc in the city.
The proposed 45-km(28-mile) Kanal Istanbul on the western fringes of Turkey's largest citywould connect the Black Sea to the north and the Marmara Sea to the south.
Erdogan says it willease traffic and prevent accidents on the natural Bosphorus strait, oneof the world's busiest waterways, which cuts through the city.
Opposition lawmakersand ecologists say an environmental impact report on the canal, a key step forsuch massive infrastructure projects, does not adequately address all theproblems that the canal could cause.
They have called onTurks to file petitions objecting to the report by Jan. 2. Queues of thosewaiting to submit petitions have spilled out of some provincial urbanisationoffices in Istanbul since Thursday.
Ahmet Kara, standingoutside an office in the Besiktas neighbourhood, said he was against the canalproject because of the effects he fears it will have on Istanbul's watersupply.
"Lack of water isthe number one problem for human life," said the 32-year old computertechnician.
Gulcan Erdogan Boyraz,a 56-year old former college instructor, said the project was aimed atprofiteering and would destroy the city's future.
"We have aresponsibility towards our grandchildren and we are making an effort to protectour future. I am here so I can rest easy," she said.
Erdogan has repeatedly said the constructionwould go ahead despite any opposition.
