Environmental battle on gold mines pays off
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Doğan News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 28, 2009 00:00
İZMİR - The environmentalists in İzmir can be happy with the work they have done, as the activity of a gold mining company was halted by the metropolitan municipality. The general manager of the company asserts that the decision is illegal, though, planning to continue mining
Environmentalists’ battle on using cyanide in gold mines has just gained important momentum.
Turkey is known for its rich and untouched underground sources but the gold mines are under heavy pressure from environmentalists due to the use of cyanide in mines. As environmental awareness strengthens along with global warming, the spotlight is on the gold mines.
The most recent example came from the western city of İzmir. A gold mine of the company Tüprag, near the Menderes County’s Efemçukuru Village, has been sealed and shut down by the Metropolitan Municipality of İzmir.
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality has reached the verdict that the gold mine cannot be licensed is due to the negative opinion of the directorate of waterworks of İzmir. The verdict also included the determination of the area as being part of an area of conservation of the Çamlı Dam. The mine had already opened one of its three galleries and prepared a "dump zone" for the mine’s wastes and also trees have been cut in the area.
Mehmet Yılmaz, General Manager of Tüprag, said that the process was illegal. "The Ministry has said the mining activities are yet to reach the level of operating license level and the actions of silver and gold mining should not be hindered," said Yılmaz. "The sealing, done in spite of that, is unlawful."
Yılmaz reacted against the verdict of the Municipality.
"We have every legal document according to the Mining Law. We are at the construction stage," he added. "The municipality has made an official complaint to the prosecutor’s office to halt the construction. The prosecution had the verdict of nonsuit. You have to be opened first to be closed".
The General Manager also said that the Ministry of Energy and Natural Sources have written to the Municipality of the action being unlawful and the Ministry of Internal Affairs gave instructions for it to be followed.
’Extremely important’
Mustafa Gül, spokesperson for the NGO Elele (Hand-in-Hand) Movement, said that the clauses from the Mining Law and the Environment Law that eases searching and mining underground resources has been canceled by the Constitutional Court, therefore the currently operating mines should be shut down.
Gül also said: "The cancelation verdicts by the Constitutional Court are extremely important for stopping the plunder under the name of mining. The new law of mining opens the natural site areas, special areas of conservation and even national parks to mining."
Gül said actions that caused pollution, such as taking samples and drilling, were no longer in scope of the Environmental Effect Evaluation. "Since the Constitutional Court had the verdict of this plunder law, which neglects environmental wellness and wildlife, against the constitution the regulations and licenses based on it have no legal basis anymore."
He argued that all regulations based on the mentioned law must be cancelled, starting with the ones on mining, and all gold mines should be sealed.
A lawyer said that miners’ increasing the pressure could be expected now.
"The Constitutional Court has decided that new arrangements should be made on the canceled clauses between six months to one year," explained lawyer Arif Ali Cangı. "During that time the miners will increase the pressure for a new law. It is not just about the gold mines, even quarries will be under question with these laws."
Turkey is known for its rich and untouched underground sources but the gold mines are under heavy pressure from environmentalists due to the use of cyanide in mines. As environmental awareness strengthens along with global warming, the spotlight is on the gold mines.
The most recent example came from the western city of İzmir. A gold mine of the company Tüprag, near the Menderes County’s Efemçukuru Village, has been sealed and shut down by the Metropolitan Municipality of İzmir.
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality has reached the verdict that the gold mine cannot be licensed is due to the negative opinion of the directorate of waterworks of İzmir. The verdict also included the determination of the area as being part of an area of conservation of the Çamlı Dam. The mine had already opened one of its three galleries and prepared a "dump zone" for the mine’s wastes and also trees have been cut in the area.
Mehmet Yılmaz, General Manager of Tüprag, said that the process was illegal. "The Ministry has said the mining activities are yet to reach the level of operating license level and the actions of silver and gold mining should not be hindered," said Yılmaz. "The sealing, done in spite of that, is unlawful."
Yılmaz reacted against the verdict of the Municipality.
"We have every legal document according to the Mining Law. We are at the construction stage," he added. "The municipality has made an official complaint to the prosecutor’s office to halt the construction. The prosecution had the verdict of nonsuit. You have to be opened first to be closed".
The General Manager also said that the Ministry of Energy and Natural Sources have written to the Municipality of the action being unlawful and the Ministry of Internal Affairs gave instructions for it to be followed.
’Extremely important’
Mustafa Gül, spokesperson for the NGO Elele (Hand-in-Hand) Movement, said that the clauses from the Mining Law and the Environment Law that eases searching and mining underground resources has been canceled by the Constitutional Court, therefore the currently operating mines should be shut down.
Gül also said: "The cancelation verdicts by the Constitutional Court are extremely important for stopping the plunder under the name of mining. The new law of mining opens the natural site areas, special areas of conservation and even national parks to mining."
Gül said actions that caused pollution, such as taking samples and drilling, were no longer in scope of the Environmental Effect Evaluation. "Since the Constitutional Court had the verdict of this plunder law, which neglects environmental wellness and wildlife, against the constitution the regulations and licenses based on it have no legal basis anymore."
He argued that all regulations based on the mentioned law must be cancelled, starting with the ones on mining, and all gold mines should be sealed.
A lawyer said that miners’ increasing the pressure could be expected now.
"The Constitutional Court has decided that new arrangements should be made on the canceled clauses between six months to one year," explained lawyer Arif Ali Cangı. "During that time the miners will increase the pressure for a new law. It is not just about the gold mines, even quarries will be under question with these laws."