Allegations of gold mine on fault line brought to Parliament: 11 questions from CHP deputy to Minister Özhaseki

The gold mine project in Balıkesir, which will negatively affect 16 villages, has sparked controversy as it is located on the Gökçeyazı fault line, one of Balıkesir's 20 active fault lines.

CHP Balıkesir Deputy Serkan Sarı has brought the gold mine project, which will closely affect at least 16 villages in the İvrindi and Altıeylül districts of Balıkesir and has caused a major reaction from the local people, to the parliamentary agenda.

"HOW ARE YOU PERMITTING THIS?"

While experts are warning of a magnitude 7 earthquake, CHP's Sarı asked Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mehmet Özhaseki, "How are you permitting the operation of a cyanide gold mine in a region that is an earthquake fault line?"

Criticizing the fact that the gold mine project belonging to CVK Madencilik A.Ş. was established on the Gökçeyazı fault line and that it could pose a serious risk factor for the health of the local people, Serkan Sarı submitted a parliamentary question to the Speaker of the Parliament.

Sarı directed the following questions to Özhaseki:

• Does the operation of a gold mine with cyanide in the lands of Balıkesir, which is an earthquake zone, not pose a threat in terms of environmental pollution and even human health?
• According to which of your policies and how are you permitting the operation of a cyanide gold mine in a region that is an earthquake fault line?
• While the process is ongoing, are the allegations true that there are irregularities in the project, which affects at least 16 villages in the region, primarily Gökçeyazı, Sarıalan, Çamköy, Sofular, Kiraz, and Dallımandıra?
• What actions and procedures has your Ministry taken regarding these allegations?
• Has any examination or investigation been conducted by your Ministry regarding the allegations that there are irregularities and unlawful aspects in the EIA report of the project in question?
• Have you given instructions for these allegations to be investigated?
• Within the project area, there are pastures, forests, and treasury lands, as well as agricultural lands belonging to the local people. Have you given instructions to investigate the allegations that property permits were not obtained for a large portion of the fields belonging to citizens?
• If these allegations are true, are our citizens' properties not being usurped?
• What work will your Ministry carry out in this situation of lawlessness?
• With which of your policies can you explain the loss of our agricultural lands for the sake of a gold mine?
• Despite the fact that large investments have been made for the development of agricultural production and animal husbandry by opening 36,620 decares of land in the İvrindi-Gökçeyazı plains to closed-system irrigation and by consolidating land in the Gökçeyazı and Kocaavşar plains, have the damages that the gold mine in the region will cause been evaluated?