Foça residents demand quarry licenses not be renewed

Residents and environmental activists in Foça, a district of İzmir, Turkey, are intensifying their efforts to prevent the renewal of quarry licenses that are set to expire this month. The Foça History and Nature Destruction Platform has submitted a written application to the İzmir Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, joined by five neighborhood headmen and a spokesperson for the platform.

The application argues that the quarries, despite continuing their operations based on expert reports, have caused significant damage to the environment, olive groves, and the lives of local residents. Petitioners assert that the quarries operate in violation of relevant laws and regulations. They are demanding that a negative Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decision be issued and that the quarry operations be terminated.

Foça Bağarası Kazım Dirik Neighborhood Headman Hava Saraç Sağlam, Hacı Veli Neighborhood Headman Necdet Tunçel, Yenibağarası Neighborhood Headman Cihat Gerihan, Yeniköy Neighborhood Headman Hasan Ercan, Kocamemetler Neighborhood Headman Yavuz Karaca, and Platform Spokesperson Ramis Sağlam personally delivered their petitions to the provincial directorate.

Platform Spokesperson Ramis Sağlam stated that the quarries are located very close to residential areas, olive groves, and agricultural lands. He noted that the operating permits, which have been active for approximately 20 years, are ending. The local community and producers are strongly against the renewal of these licenses. Sağlam highlighted a specific issue where deep excavations at one of the two large quarries in Kocamemetler Mahallesi led to the formation of a large pool of water, believed to be from surface or underground sources. The attempt to drain this water, in violation of regulations, has created a significant safety hazard. The other quarry is situated dangerously close to the village, posing a threat to residents' safety and potentially causing immense damage in the event of a natural disaster.

Sağlam further emphasized the negative impact on olive cultivation and agricultural activities. "In summary, the quarries here violate the right to live in a healthy environment. Their operational activities are not in compliance with relevant laws and regulations. This is confirmed by expert reports. Therefore, we demand that during the EIA process, which should be conducted at the stage of license renewal applications, a 'Negative EIA' decision be made, and this illegal mining activity be terminated," he urged.

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Taş ocakları çevreye, zeytinciliğe, insan yaşamına zarar verdiği, ilgili yasa ve yönetmeliklere aykırı olduğu savunularak ÇED olumsuz kararı verilmesi ve faaliyetinin sonlandırılması talep edildi.