Ten mining companies prospecting on the greenest mountain in the world

Ten mining companies prospecting for various metals in the Ida Mountains (Kaz Dağları) have been criticized for destroying centuries-old trees, the daily Radikal reported yesterday.

Ten companies that are still in the exploration stage are destroying the trees there. Mud has already mixed with the water on Homer's Ida with a thousand springs. The local residents are determined to not allow this: We will protect our mountain, the paper quoted them as saying.

The Ida Mountains, mentioned in Homer's Iliad and which hosts endemic plants, is in a life and death struggle, according to the daily. Ten mining companies, who had obtained permission to prospect for metals such as gold, copper and lead in 36 different points continue their work unabated. If they discover mines on the Ida Mountains and the government grants these companies permission to mine them, Ida Mountains might become “grizzly mountains,” the daily said.

In the Bayramiç area tens of trees have been cut only in the exploration stage. Bulldozers have uprooted juniper trees in the Küçükkuyu area. Muddy water has started to flow in the village streams. Mayors, who have come together to discuss the problem, say if the government gives mining permission, agriculture and stockbreeding will end. We are preparing for the greatest environment demonstration, Radikal quoted the mayors as saying.

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