‘Is it True That 195 Thousand Trees Have Been Cut Down in Mount Ida?’

* Photograph: Çanakkale Municipality / Twitter

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The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources granted a construction permit to the Kirazlı Gold Mine Project in May 2019. Accordingly, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan has brought the related construction works into Parliamentary agenda.

Submitting a Parliamentary question to Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Murat Kurum about the project planned to be constructed in Mount Ida between Çanakkale and Balıkesir, Paylan has shared the following information about the construction works so far:

'It causes reactions in terms of public health'

"In the Environmental Impact Assessment Report allegedly prepared 10 years ago, the cutting down of 45 thousand 650 trees was permitted to construct the project, which would mean 'destruction' in nature.

"What is worse, as part of the project, this figure has been exceeded by four times and 195 thousand trees have been cut down in contrast with the report.

"Moreover, the fact that tons of cyanide will be used as part of the project causes reactions in terms of public health.

"Scientists and related environmental organizations have been indicating that the cyanide gold mining planned to be undertaken in the region will be done on the same water basin with the Atikhisar Dam, which is the only water supply for 180 thousand people."

'Will the project be cancelled?'

Accordingly, Paylan has posed a series of questions to Minister Kurum about the construction of the project. Questioning "what kind of benefit this project has for the public", Paylan has inquired, "Are the allegations that 195 thousand trees have been cut down for the project in contrast with the Environmental Impact Assessment Report true?"

Paylan has also wanted to learn whether the Ministry has been conducting any research about the number of trees allegedly cut down for the project. Questioning whether the impacts of cyanide and other heavy metals on the public health have been taken into consideration, he has also asked, "In addition to the trees cut down for the project, how many species in the regional habitat have been harmed or effected by these works?"

"Will any sanctions be taken against the project-owner company allegedly undertaking these works contrary to its legal responsibility? Will this project be cancelled?", Paylan has asked further. (AÖ/SD)