Ümit Özdağ reacts sharply to the draft law prepared for pastures and olive groves

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ expressed his concerns regarding a new draft law that would allow construction on pasture and olive grove lands without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report. In a post on his social media account, Özdağ stated, "A draft law has been prepared to allow construction on pastures and olive groves without an EIA report. It is unbelievable."

Drawing attention to the food crisis caused by global warming, Özdağ said, "While the world is heading toward a famine that will emerge as a result of global warming, the olive groves where olives—the gold that grows on trees—are cultivated could be destroyed." Stating that olive groves hold an important place in Turkey's agricultural production and economy, Özdağ emphasized that the protection of these areas is of vital importance.

Pointing out that it is also on the agenda to open pastures, which are indispensable for livestock farming, to construction, Özdağ said, "Pastures, which are indispensable for livestock, could be opened to construction," expressing that the bill would also cause great harm to the livestock sector.

At the end of his statement, Özdağ addressed the conscientious members of parliament within the AK Party, calling on them by saying, "I hope the conscientious people within the AK Party will oppose and block this."

The draft law in question has also drawn reactions from civil society organizations operating in the fields of environment and agriculture, as well as from opposition parties. If the bill comes to the parliamentary agenda, discussions are expected to intensify further in the coming days.