87 percent water price hike in Zonguldak: Huge backlash from citizens and politicians

The decisions taken at the second municipal council meeting of Zonguldak Belediyesi in temmuz caused a huge public outcry in the city. It was announced at the meeting that high rate hikes were made to many basic services, especially water and public transportation. The rate of the water hike was set at exactly 87 percent, causing deep frustration among the citizens. With the said increase, the cubic meter price of water rose from 28 TL to 42 TL. The public, already struggling with economic difficulties, was once again burdened with a new financial load.

One of the harshest reactions to the decision came from Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP) former Merkez İlçe Başkanı Ebru Uzun. Making a detailed statement on the issue via her social media account, Uzun stated that such a high rate hike is at a completely unacceptable level. Reminding that she had harshly criticized the water hikes of the municipality under AK Parti administration in the past, Uzun emphasized that she has to voice her criticisms with the same consistency today. She noted that such decisions by local governments would do nothing but make the daily lives of the people even more difficult. She added that, regardless of political identities, it is essential to sincerely criticize any decision that puts the public in a difficult situation.

Emphasizing that water is an indispensable basic human right with no alternative, Uzun used very striking expressions in her statement. She stated how devastating a situation it is for people to calculate cubic meters while drinking water, cooking, or cleaning. She acknowledged that water is a resource that needs to be conserved, but argued that turning it into a luxury for citizens is unacceptable. She expressed that excuses such as inflation and rising costs are now memorized by everyone, but water is a vital necessity that cannot be overshadowed by cost increases. She reinforced the idea that water is not a commercial commodity, but life itself.

Drawing attention to the fact that water bills will swell significantly after the recent hikes, politician Uzun pointed out that low-income families will be crushed under this heavy burden. She reminded that retirees, workers, and minimum wage earners are trying to catch their breath among basic expenses such as electricity, natural gas, rent, and food. She said that adding a water bill on top of this challenging economic picture will break the backs of families. She stated that it is a very wrong approach for local governments to make the people of Zonguldak feel like a taxi meter is running when they turn on the tap. She argued that a policy that stands by the people and is understanding, rather than patronizing, should be followed in the management of water resources.

Conducting a courageous self-criticism towards her party in the final part of her statement, Uzun made important observations about her political stance. She reminded that in the past, when the municipality was under AK Parti administration, she organized actions against price hikes justified by costs. She stated that she could not remain silent after the municipality governed by her own party made similar mistakes, because justice and righteousness do not discriminate between parties. She added that while correct municipal activities are always supported, calling out wrong steps as 'wrong' is a human duty. Noting that making water inaccessible is a political responsibility as well as a conscientious one, she called on the authorities to be more compassionate on this issue.