Post by : Saif Rahman

A pressing environmental issue is unfolding in central Turkey, where numerous sinkholes have developed across farmlands amidst diminishing rainfall and reduced groundwater resources. These sinkholes threaten vital crop-producing areas, including maize, wheat, and sugar beet, leading to increased worries about land stability and sustainability.

In the Karapinar district of Konya province, some fields are now home to over ten sinkholes. In hilly terrains, significant ancient sinkholes, once filled with water, are now largely dry. Geologists monitoring the developments indicate that this phenomenon reflects escalating climate change impacts.

Fetullah Arik, a geology professor at Konya Technical University, shared insights on the alarming rise in sinkhole incidents. “The main culprits are climate change and extended drought, adversely affecting global water supply since the 2000s. Currently, groundwater levels are declining by 4 to 5 meters annually, a stark contrast to the half-meter drop recorded twenty years ago,” he stated.

The surge in groundwater depletion is linked to the proliferation of wells—many operating without legal permits—that tap into subterranean water reserves. Remarkably, the Konya basin is now home to about 120,000 unauthorized wells, dwarfing the approximately 40,000 licensed ones.

While no fatalities have been reported due to sinkholes, their unpredictability poses a serious threat to infrastructure, properties, and overall safety. Recent assessments in Karapinar detected additional at-risk areas, but experts remain unable to forecast when new sinkholes might form.

Without immediate efforts to regulate groundwater usage and combat climate change effects, the region may face a rise in sinkhole occurrences, jeopardizing both land and community stability. Experts stress the necessity for coordinated initiatives to avert further environmental decline and secure the long-term future of central Turkey’s agricultural lands.

#Environment news #Environment #Environmental