Residents of Arzoxlî (Kervanpınar) village in Diyarbakır’s Sur district began a tent vigil against plans to open their communal pasture to a solar power plant (GES) project. The Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) granted Zenkar a 49-year generation license. On 21 October, villagers opposed construction machinery entering the project site under the escort of gendarmerie and riot police. On the second day of the protest, gendarmerie also prevented villagers from accessing farmland outside the project area. It emerged that company owner Muzaffer Aslanhan was on the reserve list of the AKP Diyarbakır Provincial Executive Board. In a case filed against the Zenkar 2 project, an expert panel appointed by Diyarbakır 1st Administrative Court found after a site inspection on 16 July that implementing the project in its current form would be objectionable. The expert report said impacts on agriculture, animal husbandry, pastures, water resources and archaeological sites had not been adequately examined. Villagers filed three separate lawsuits against the pasture allocation permit, zoning plan and positive EIA decision. Fearing the end of livestock farming, villagers continued their vigil to protect their land and pastures.
23 October 2026
Diyarbakır Yenigün