国际英语资讯:Canal project divides Turks over environmental, financial issues_时事

国际英语资讯:Canal project divides Turks over environmental, financial issues

Geologists have long been expecting a strong earthquake to hit Istanbul in the fault line passing under the Marmara Sea.

For Naci Gorur, a specialist in sedimentology and marine geology, there will be an excessive dislocation of soil and excessive landslides and collapses depending on the earth's properties, during the excavation of the canal.

He posted a series of tweets about the potential negative impacts of the project, calling on the authorities to give it up.

"In the case of a big Istanbul earthquake, the Marmara mouth of the canal would be affected by 9-10 magnitude of tremor, which would cause severe destruction," Gorur tweeted.

In his view, the artificial waterway will also jeopardize disaster management in the city, disrupting fire and rescue works and health services.

"Additionally, it will destroy the underground and surface water and dams along its route," Gorur cautioned.

"It will annihilate an estimated 135 million square meters of agricultural land and has no reasonable basis," Imamoglu remarked. "We will never follow an idea that is not backed by reason and science and the people of this city. Canal Istanbul is a subject of science and not of politics."

Claiming that the project would cost as much as 13 billion U.S. dollars, the mayor said, "How many attraction centers can we establish in the country with this money? Think about these. How many factories and schools can we build?"