Olive plunder by the AKP: Olive groves in Muğla are being opened to mining

With Article 11 of the omnibus bill submitted by the AKP to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, a temporary article is planned to be added to the Mining Law. With this article, it is aimed to open certain olive grove areas in Muğla to mining activities by providing their coordinates one by one.

Among the coordinates provided are the mining sites belonging to the Yatağan, Yeniköy, and Kemerköy thermal power plants. Local villagers in these regions have long been struggling to protect these olive groves.

WORK PERMITS GRANTED TO COMPANIES

While the regulation envisions the "relocation" of olive groves, it grants companies that hold licenses or operate through royalty agreements in these areas the opportunity to continue their work. It is known that the Yatağan Thermal Power Plant belongs to Aydem Holding, while the Yeniköy and Kemerköy power plants belong to the Limak-IC İçtaş partnership.

CHP İzmir Deputy and member of the Parliamentary Industry Commission Ednan Arslan reacted strongly to the regulation in question. Stating, "We will stand against this regulation brought forward to plunder olive groves," Arslan said:

"Every year before Parliament closes, regulations that serve the interests of certain groups are rushed through the commission. They say we will meet our country's energy needs, but our nature is being destroyed under this pretext. They are bringing this regulation, which had to be withdrawn many times before, back to us. This is clearly a violation of the Olive Law through the Mining Law. We will not let it pass."

"PLUNDER FOR CAPITAL IS BEING FACILITATED"

Mehmet Torun, former President of the Chamber of Mining Engineers, was also among those who reacted to the proposal. Stating that the regulation has been on the government's agenda for a long time, Torun said:

"This proposal was prepared so that capital can access mines more easily and generate profit faster. They constantly bring such regulations to the agenda, waiting for the right time. In the end, it is nature, olives, and the local people who suffer. Olive groves will be plundered right before our eyes."

News Source: 12punto