Environmental Engineers Chamber, prepared ahead of World Environment Day June 5 “World Environment Day 2019 report on Turkey.” has been declared.

The report noted the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization closed the Zero Waste Department in May, despite major environmental problems from waste to nuclear and radioactive waste. President of CHAMBER OF Environmental Engineers Baran Bozoğlu has explained the 2019 World Environment Day report as follows:

1.     - Nuclear risk in and around Iğdır (a city in Turkey):

The Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia is 16 km away from the Iğdır provincial border and does not have an earthquake protection and protection basin like the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. None of them, including the provinces at the border, are prepared for the negative impact of the nuclear power plant. It is a question of whether we are prepared for what should be done in a possible accident.

2.      -“Zero Waste” was canceled

The “Zero Waste” department and the Climate Change Adaptation Department, established by Ministry of Environment and Urbanization last year, were completely close on May 24 2019.

3.      -The lands of Konya ( a city in Turkey) are disappearing:

Because of the illegal and uncontrolled usage of groundwater in Karapınar, a region of Konya, underground waters have been withdrawn and boreholes began to form in the region. In the first 5 months of 2019, 8 large diameter and depth potholes were formed in the region.

4.     - Gaziemir (a region in a city of Turkey) is spitting venom:

In 2007, a lead recovery coming out of the factory, Turkey Atomic Energy of radioactive and hazardous waste sitting in the public agenda and in 2012 is determined by Authority was removed from the region and rehabilitation were not performed. The amount of radioactive waste indicated in the reports that the amount of 100 thousand tons in 2015, an unscientific application was poured soil. Despite the positive EIA decision taken for waste removal and rehabilitation in 2017, it is seen that no work has been done yet.

5.      -816 municipals aren’t cleaning wastewater:

74% of Turkey’s surface water is dirty. The generation of wastewater from thermal power plants increased to 57 percent. 1338 municipalities have sewerage networks and 59 municipalities do not have sewerage networks out of 1397. Furthermore, according to TUIK data, 816 municipalities’ wastewater is given to nature without being treated.

and much more. It hurts me to say but in our country, Turkey, an action must be taken immediately.

                                                                                   Umut Karadeniz