Locals struggle against mining company in Konya: ‘Can anybody hear us?’

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The citizens living in the Neighborhood of Çavuşçugöl in Turkey's Central Anatolian Konya province are struggling against a company that wants to extract coal mine in their living space. Preparing to file a lawsuit against the company, villagers ask, "Can anybody hear us?"

Çavuşçugöl is a neighborhood in Ilgın district of Konya. The citizens living there will now appeal to the Konya Administrative Court and request a stay of execution for the works of the company in the region.

DSİ warned that there were water basins

Biologist and ecologist Ayşe Mergenci says that the company first wanted to purchase the estates of locals, but as the villagers did not consent to sell their lands, the solution was found in taking a "decision of urgent expropriation" by the Presidency. One morning, villagers woke up and saw that there were excavators in their private-registered lands, says Mergenci.

'Citizens want the company out of their fields'

Mergenci shares the following information with bianet:

"This place used to be a village before it came under the jurisdiction of Konya Metropolitan Municipality. Then, it has come under the jurisdiction of the municipality and become a neighborhood. The struggle of villagers for ecology has been going on for a long time now.

"The State Hydraulics Works (DSİ) had a report about this region. The DSİ warned that 'coal mine should not be explored here as there were water basins.' It is also alleged that the person who prepared this report was dismissed from duty and sent somewhere else.

"An area of 165 thousand square meters has been expropriated so far. Citizens are shocked in the face of all these. They woke up one morning and saw the excavators of the company on their own lands.

"This has been going on for almost a week. Excavators are now working there and citizens are trying to make their voices heard.

"Taking no notice of the DSİ's warning, the company has already started exploring mine in the area. We wanted to march to this place, but the gendarmerie prevented the march. Citizens do not know what to do. We are expecting support from the whole public."

'Children and women are sick'

Mergenci concludes her remarks as follows:

"Little children are all sick here. Every household has a cancer patient. There has been constantly a funeral since the Ramadan month.

"Women and children have KOAH and asthma. Their immune system is getting weaker and weaker. Excavators are working. Our attorneys will make the necessary applications as soon as possible.

"Citizens here are worried that their voices are not heard. When you speak to them, most of the villagers ask you, 'Can anybody hear us?' I want their voices to be heard. My call is to the whole public."

Excavators are still working for the coal mine to be opened by Yeni Anadolu Mining and Technologies Inc. despite all objections and protests of locals. (EMK/SD)