Tower of Power(lessness)

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 10 March 2019)


Naming contest winner: "Beyaz Fil Kulesi" (White
Elephant Tower)

A 144-meter high, uncompleted tower in Keçiören district of Ankara
cost 27 million TL (about $5 million) to build but it is a hazard for
aircraft. Tearing down the tower would cost 20 million TL (!).

Keçiören 'Millet İttifakı' (opposition party coalition) candidate
Güçlü Şenel asserted that the tower, which was supposed to become
Turkey's highest when it was started in 2003 but remains
uncompleted 16 years later, "is the biggest swindle to hit Keçiören!"
Şenel noted that a court ruled that the tower should be torn down,
but he vowed to make it into a library and observatory, if elected.

A poll among Keçiören's residents showed that 76% want the
tower used for something.  Referring to this, Şenel noted that
the court ruling for demolition still stands so some accommodation
will have to be found to please residents. 

AKP (ruling party) mayoral candidate Turgut Altinok, who
started the tower in 2003 when he was mayor, said that if he's
elected he will solve the legal problems and raise the tower to
186 meters (!).


                                          Keçiören (B)