Locals to file a suit against positive EIA report given for a stone quarry

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While the locals of the Kızderbent neighborhood in western Kocaeli province have long been struggling against a stone quarry planned to be opened in the area, the Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanization has issued a positive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the project, saying, "The opinions of the people were taken into account." The inhabitants of the neighborhood are now preparing to take the report to court.

The State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) 1st Regional Directorate is planning to set up a stone quarry and a concrete plant in the Aktoprak area in Kızderbent neighborhood in Kocaeli's Karamürsel. With the stones to be mined from the quarry, the directorate aims to provide the Karadere irrigation and Kınalı drinking water dams planned to be built in Yalova with materials.

However, the locals are against the facility. The Solidarity and Development Association of People of Kızderbent have been saying since June 30, 2020 that they do not want the quarry to be built in their neighborhood on a 91,958-hectare land. While the locals note that the facility will affect agriculture and animal husbandry negatively, the Environmental Impact Assessment Report Examination and Evaluation Commission asked the people of Kızdebent to apply to the Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanization in 10 days and submit their opinions about the issue and express their justifications for not wanting the quarry.

'Locals' opinions taken into consideration'

With around 2,000 signatures collected from locals, the Solidarity and Development Association of People of Kızderbent submitted a petition of objection to the Kocaeli Directorate of Environment and Urbanization on February 25. However, despite all objections, the Directorate has issued a positive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the stone quarry.

In announcing the issue, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization has said that "the opinions of the people were taken into consideration."

Commenting on the report and the announcement of the Ministry, Association Chair Enver Demirsoysal says that the EIA meeting on the stone quarry was held in the capital city of Ankara, they attended the meeting as the people of the region and reiterated their concerns there.

Demirsosyal thinks that they will win the struggle. Indicating that a positive EIA report was given for the facility on March 26 despite all objections, Demirsoysal says, "The decision says, '...by taking the opinions of the people into consideration.' We have never seen such nonsense."

The Association Chair briefly adds:

"An informative meeting was held for the people on June 30; at that meeting, we indicated that we did not want the stone quarry. Afterwards, we launched a petition and we submitted our petition to the sub-governor's office with these signatures. But, it did not help.

"The meeting of the Examination and Evaluation Commission was held, we went there on February 3. We once again said that we did not want this project and explained that the project would harm the village. It did not help, either. At last, they told us to submit our objection to the Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanization Ministry. We collected two thousand signatures, we raised our objection. It did not help, either. They have approved the EIA report. Is it how the opinions of people are asked?"

'Villagers are angry and outraged'

Demirsoysal has announced that they will file a lawsuit against the positive EIA report on April 22, adding that they will keep seeking their rights through legal channels. "We will keep seeking our rights legally. Our struggle has not ended. We will win this lawsuit," he has said, adding:

"Villagers are angry, they are outraged. How could a positive report be issued despite all these objections and efforts? We made our announcement yesterday, calling on people to give a power of attorney if they want to file a lawsuit. We will press charges as an association, we are hopeful."

'A quarry cannot be built inside a forest, water'

Referring to the cancellation of the EIA report previously given for a hydroelectric power station planned to be built in Pilarget Valley in Artvin's Arhavi district, Demirsosysal says, "Therefore, we are hopeful. A stone quarry cannot be built inside a forest or water. I think this decision is treason. Because they steal our future. Kızderbent is still a place where animal husbandry and agriculture prevail. We have to protect this." (SO/SD)