Turkey’s Council of State cancels rapid expropriation decision for Yırca olive grove

MANİSA

Yırca villagers dance to celebrate the Council of State’s ruling to cancel the rapid expropriation decision.

Turkey’s Council of State has dismissed the Cabinet’s rapid expropriation decision in the Yırca village of the Manisa province, marking a crucial ruling for the locals who lost thousands of olive trees over a coal power plant project.

Energy company Kolin group felled a total of 6,666 olive trees, the main source of income for the town, to build a coal plant following the rapid expropriation decision.

The trees were cut down early Nov. 7 as clashes erupted between private security officers and the locals who had been guarding the grove for more than 52 days.

The Council of State has granted a stay of execution for the Cabinet decision and the construction of the plant, just hours after the trees were uprooted.

The body finally dismissed the rapid expropriation decision on Dec. 26, after evaluating the villagers’ appeals.

Deniz Bayram, the lawyer of the villagers, said thermal power plants cannot be built in the grove with the recent decision.

“The company officials who are responsible for cutting down 6,666 olive trees and administrative units that did not take the necessary measures and prevent the cuttings should be prosecuted and punished,” he added. 

Mustafa Akın, the governor of the village, has announced the Council of State’s decision to the villagers, expressing his happiness and thanking the body’s judges.