Karatay, Turkey establishes steering committee for Resilient Karatay drought and sinkhole mitigation project

The Karatay Municipality in Konya, Turkey, convened the inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee for the EU‑ and Turkey‑co‑financed "Resilient Karatay" project. The project, coordinated with Konya Technical University and the Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute, aims to reduce drought and sinkhole (obruk) risks in the region through sensor‑based early‑warning systems, modern digital irrigation, and farmer awareness programs. Participants included representatives from State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), the Meteorology Directorate, and the Konya Agriculture and Forestry Directorate.

During the meeting the consortium reviewed completed hydrogeological analyses, groundwater monitoring, and pilot irrigation technologies, and set a roadmap for the next phase. Emphasis was placed on expanding smart irrigation, improving data sharing among agencies, and integrating project outputs into urban planning, land‑use decisions, and policy development to enhance climate resilience in the Karatay basin.