Published: 8/17/2008
ANAMUR – Turkey will build a dam on a creek in the Mediterranean region to carry fresh water to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) through a 80-kilometers submarine pipeline.
The Alakopru Dam will be constructed on Dragon Creek in Anamur town of the Mediterranean province of Mersin and is planned to be completed within three years once the construction works are started.
The project aims to pump 75 million cubic meters of water yearly to the island, 15 of which will be used as drinking water and the rest for irrigation.
Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said project design works would be finalized next year.
“This project will be implemented to help TRNC fight drought and carry out irrigated farming,” Tuzmen said.
Turkey first started the project in 1998 to build a dam on Dragon Creek and Turkish construction company Alarko was contracted for the project. A memorandum of understanding was signed by Turkish State Hydraulic Works and Alarko in 2005.
The project will bring water to the island from Alakopru Dam through a 80-kilometers submarine pipeline to be installed 120 meters deep in the Mediterranean Sea.
Turkish Cypriot people, cultivating their land by means of dry farming for years, will now be able to carry out irrigated farming, officials said.
(TÇ-UK)
(GEN)
Source: www.turkishpress.com, 17.08.2008
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