Serious Measures Needed Against Pollution

It was reported that initial examination of the contents by the Izmit Municipality's Waste and Waste Purification, Burning and Evaluation company (İZAYDAS) showed the barrels contained a high quantity of the carcinogenic and mutagenic agent, fenol.

As the findings were submitted to the Istanbul Environment and Forest Directorate, the city's governor promised an in-depth investigation and said all of the barrels would be recovered and disposed of.

The Chamber of Environment Engineers (CMO) said Turkey needed to draw an environment policy and while current laws regulated that those who pollute should pay for their pollution, the importance of the concept of an 'environment inspector' in the new law could be seen in this last incident.

If the company responsible for burying the barrels in the area is identified, it can only be fined a maximum 7,850 YTL says Istanbul Province Environment and Forest Director Doctor Mehmet Emin Birpinar. "The new environment law," he explains, "proposes fines starting from 1 million YTL. The new draft that was also on the agenda of the previous governments, should be treated with priority."

CMO: No benefit in "polluter pays"

In a written statement it issued on the subject, the CMO İstanbul branch said the laws in force were based on the principle that "polluters pay" for their pollution but that this approach is not sufficient to prevent harm to the echo system.

"On top of this," said the statement, "when the payment is taken into context together with the damage inflicted on the environment and health of the people, it is comical. When the polluter disappears, there is no one to pay."

"They insist on nuclear but can't deal with solid waste"

In criticism of the government's nuclear power plans the CMO statement added that "in a country that does not know what to do with its solid waste, its trash, it is evident how heedless those are who insist on nuclear terminals".

The CMO pointed out that as result of unequal development of industry in Turkey and the concentration of industrial capital in certain areas, the country now faced the problem of administering thousands of tons of waste particularly in the cities. The accidental discovery of so much waste in Tuzla reflect this according to the Chamber.

According to the statement, dates on the Tuzla barrels show they have been buried for approximately two years and first examination shows they contained the substance fenol which in the short term leads to poisoning and disease while in the long term is a carcinogenic and mutagenic agent. It added the barrels had already been oxidised and polluted the soil they were buried in.

"Pass the Law"

CMO said regulations without those who carry them out or monitor them had no meaning and highlighted the importance of the concept of "environmental inspector" in the new law. It said the environmental inspectors should be environment engineers and argued that the new law was a priority.

Governor: We will dispose

Istanbul governor Muammer Guler has said the barrels will be safely removed from the site they are buried in and then disposed of. He said officials were conducting inspections as to whether the barrels threatened plant, animal or human life and added that for the time being, there was no danger with regard to water.

Guler said, "But we will win back that whole region. There are some allegations there. All of these will be taken into account. No matter how many barrels there are, even if they have been damaged, they will be disposed of. They will be transported. We will prevent possible problems in the area. We will start from now to control entry and exit to the area." (EZO/II/YE)