23 Waste Barrels Found Buried in Sakarya

Türkiye 19/05/2009

Published in Radikal. Original Turkish found at

http://www.radikal.com.tr/Radikal.aspx?aType=RadikalDetay&ArticleID=936654&Date=20.05.2009&CategoryID=77

Zafer TOKUŞ- Aziz GÜVENER- Cihan EMRE

SAKARYA- Twenty three barrels, dumped by unknown persons, have been found in a field in the Darıçayırı district of Karasu township. It appears that the barrels, allegedly filled with poisonous waste, were brought to and dumped in the field and originate from a factory located in İzmit.

In the run up to the March 29 local elections in Darıçayırı, the Demokrat Party (DP) candidate Ahmet Başaran alleged that Recep Sarı of the Adalet ve Kalkınma Party (AKP) allowed the burial of the poisonous waste and, if elected, promised that he would prove this. Upon winning the election and taking his place as the magistrate of the district Ahmet Başaran ordered the investigation of the site where the poisonous waste was dumped.

The Health Directorate along with the Directorate of the Environment and Forestry announced that the barrels were located by the backhoe used in the excavation at about 2:00 in the afternoon in the field located 300 meters from the Darıçayırı exit on the Karasu-Adapazarı highway.

ALLEGEDLY BROUGHT FROM A FACTORY IN İZMİT

The barrels, allegedly containing poisonous waste, have been wrapped in plastic for safe removal and are currently undergoing analysis. The apparently chemical substance caked to the dirt in which it was contained and while analysis is still being performed to determine what it is, the Health Directorate along with the Directorate of the Environment and Forestry have announced that their team has determined it is not a radioactive substance.

It has been alleged that the barrels are the property of a factory in İzmit and that they were dumped at the site in 2003 by the driver of a truck owned by the Darıçayırı district.

WHAT DOES THE MAGISTRATE HAVE TO SAY?

Darıçayırı district magistrate Ahmet Başaran (DP), contending that the dumping of the material took place during the previous administration of Recep Sarı (AKP), had this to say:

“The claim was made before [concerning the existence of the barrels], but during that time nothing was done. After the election, the same claim was made. There was still interest and concern. And, we received approval last Wednesday from the Health Directorate. In response to the concerned claims we received, we began digging here. So far, 23 barrels have been found. We don’t know how many more may be found, and radiation testing has been done. And we’re going to work until all the analysis is complete.”