Turkey to complete water project to TRNC in four stages

LEFKOSA (A.A) - Turkey's forestry & water works minister said on Saturday that Turkey would complete the water project regarding Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in four stages. Veysel Eroglu said the idea to transport water to TRNC from Turkey was developed when Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was Istanbul metropolitan mayor. "The water project was launched in 2003, and we will complete the project in four stages," Eroglu told TRNC's Bayrak Radio and Television (BRT). Eroglu said the first stage was construction of Alakopru dam in Turkish southern town of Anamur, and Turkey laid the foundation of the dam on March 7, 2011. "Mr. Prime Minister asked us to complete the construction on March 7, 2014," Eroglu said. Eroglu said the pipeline that would carry water to Gecitkoy dam would be 107 kilometers long, and it would carry 75 million cubic meters of water. "75 million cubic meters of potable water can be provided to 750,000 people, and some of it will be used as potable water and some of it for irrigation purposes," he said. Eroglu said, "this water can be peace water." The minister said he would visit TRNC this year to discuss efforts to counter forest fires and to plant new trees. Moreover, Eroglu said 2012 could bring peace to the island, and Turkey would continue to support Turkish Cypriots.