ERZURUM - Citizens who were reacted to the "EIA is not required" report for the gold mine to be established in Axreşa District of Tatos, stated that they do not want to experience a second Licik disaster.

While 13 miners who remained underground after the disaster that occurred on February 13 in the gold mine in Erzincan's Licik (İliç) district have still not been reached, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports given for the gold mines became a subject of discussion again after the disaster.

 

Despite the tragedies, a gold mine is wanted to be established in Tatos (Tekman) district of Erzirom (Erzurum). While the "EIA is not required" report was given for the gold mine wanted to be established by Koza Gold Enterprises Joint Stock Company in Axreşa District, the residents of the neighborhood, who did not want to experience a second Licik disaster, reacted to the situation by stating that they did not want cyanide in their living spaces.

 

MINE WANTED TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE PASTURE AREA

 

Stating that the place determined as the mining area is close to the pasture area and settlements, Faysal Korkmaz said: “The land where the gold mine will be built is 500 meters away from our neighborhood. The land to be mined is pasture land and we do animal husbandry here. For this reason, we do not want it to be used as a mining area. We objected many times, but unfortunately we did not get any results."

 

Drawing attention to the damage that the mine will cause to nature, Şakir Korkmaz said: “Mining land is not treasury property, it is our registered land. The land where the mine will be built is the pasture where we graze our animals. We all saw the disaster in Licik. 13 workers remained underground. We do not want to experience the same result. Our ancestors lived and died here. We will definitely not abandon these lands.”

 

'WE DON'T WANT CYANIDE'

 

Stating that there is an animal watering pond opposite the place determined as the mining area, Selami Yürekseven said: “If there is no livestock, how will the neighborhood make a living? The land where the mine will be built is the common use land of the neighborhood. The mine land is a first degree earthquake zone. We built our houses with our own means. They are not resistant to any shock. If the mine is established, dynamite will constantly explode and our houses will be damaged or even destroyed. Cyanide will be used in the mine. This will harm us, our children and our animals, so we do not want a mine to be established."

 

Abdulgafur Korkmaz also said: “If the mine is established, the neighborhood will also be removed. We have nowhere else to go, nor any other profession to do. If the mine is established, a neighborhood of 35 houses will be demolished. We do not want a mine to be established.”

 

'WE WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'

 

Sedat Arslan stated that they do not want to experience a second Licik disaster and said: “We have been aware of this situation for about a month. We saw and experienced the disaster in Licik, we do not want the same scenario to happen here. We will do whatever we can to prevent this. We will not allow gold mining."