Villagers in Rize object: 'EIA not required' decision taken to court

A drinking water pond project planned by the Rize Municipality and the State Hydraulic Works in Rize has been taken to court.

After an 'EIA not required' decision was issued for the area where work had begun, the villagers decided to launch a legal battle, citing the risk of landslides in the area.

Villagers Kazım Delal, Nazım Delal, Yusuf Esir, and Dumru Esir went to the Rize Administrative Court to file a complaint for the cancellation of the 'EIA not required' decision.

Regarding the lawsuit filed, the Rize Administrative Court decided to conduct an on-site inspection and expert review in the neighborhood.

For the inspection, a 9-member scientific committee from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University (RTEÜ) and Karadeniz Technical University (KTÜ) gathered to conduct examinations and investigations in the valley in question.

The scientific committee will submit the report it prepares within 60 days to the Rize Administrative Court.

“120 YEARS AGO, THESE MOUNTAINS CAME DOWN HERE AS A RESULT OF A LANDSLIDE”

Stating that the planned pond project is in a landslide zone and that a landslide would put Rize in danger, Kazım Delal said the following:

“They said they would build a crushing and screening plant, 2 stone quarries, and a pond with a capacity of 1 million cubic meters here. This will take at least 7 years. This place is both a lake zone and a landslide zone. 100 years ago, the name of this place was 'lake'. 120 years ago, these mountains came down here as a result of a landslide. These mountains are still waiting in preparation. The inspection was very late, but today's inspection has a special feature. This was a historic inspection. 5 experts used to come to every inspection. However, 9 experts came to this inspection. With God's permission, I am very hopeful. I believe that the expert court will hopefully resolve this. If this 1 million cubic meters of water bursts, it will put Rize in danger."

News Source: İHA