CHP PARLIAMENTARIANS IN THE REGION
ISTANBUL - A group of parliamentarians from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) inspected the area where toxic waste barrels were found a few days ago in Tuzla town of Istanbul.
CHP MP Ali Topuz told reporters, ''the issue is very serious and unacceptable. It is like Chernobyl disaster. We fear that the effects will go on for years. We will make a report and submit it to Parliament.''
Topuz said, ''Turkey's waste material amounts 2 million tons a year; 700,000 tons of which are produced in this region only. It is not possible to dispose all these wastes through IZAYDAS (waste disposal facility in Izmit city). IZAYDAS has a disposal capacity of 35,000 tons p.a.. Thus, we need 18-20 new facilities like IZAYDAS.''
''Turkey should prepare a (national) waste disposal project. The number of disposal facilities should be increased,'' he added.
On the other hand IZAYDAS experts have unearthed 50 new waste barrels in the region till noon today.
In the meantime members of Tuzla, Kartal and Gebze community centers held a protest in front of Unifar Chemistry Industry Corp. which was accused of burying the toxic barrels in Tuzla.