İskenderun and Lake Van launch environmental awareness initiatives

In İskenderun, Hatay, the local municipality has launched a unique awareness campaign to combat coastal pollution. After finding a seating area left covered in trash, officials cordoned off the area with security tape and placed a sign stating, ‘This artwork is the work of a citizen who cannot manage to keep our İskenderun clean.’ The installation is set to be displayed for seven days to draw public attention to environmental responsibility.

To further deter littering, İskenderun Mayor Mehmet Dönmez announced plans to increase administrative fines for environmental pollution. The municipality aims to raise the minimum fine from 3,000 TL to 10,000 TL or more through a decision in the upcoming municipal council meeting.

In a separate environmental effort, a cleaning operation was conducted on the shores of Lake Van in Tatvan. A team of approximately 100 people, including public officials and volunteers, collected nearly 4 tons of waste from a popular recreational area known as the ‘Çöplük’ site. Tatvan District Governor Yiğit Yaşar Demirer emphasized the importance of protecting the lake and increasing social awareness regarding environmental preservation.