In the Divriği district of SİVAS, Hüseyin Şahin (48) filed a complaint, claiming that 9 of his calves died due to the smoke coming from the oak coal production area, which was established approximately 600 meters away from his barn. Explaining the death of his animals with tears, Şahin said, "They are making charcoal downstairs. 9 of our calves died in 5 days. The authorities came and when they opened the dead animals and looked at them, they said that they were affected by the smoke. There are 20 more animals that we expect to die."
Hüseyin Şahin, a married father of one who has been cattle breeding for 6 years near Yağbasan village, which is approximately 45 kilometers away from the district, said that the oak charcoal production furnaces belonging to N.A., which were established approximately 600 meters away from his barn, negatively affected his animals. Şahin, who has 109 cattle, claimed that 9 of his calves died recently due to the intense smoke coming out of the furnaces. Şahin, who also complained to the Gendarmerie, Forest Management Directorate and Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, asked for help from the authorities in tears. Stating that he kept a report for each dead animal, Şahin demanded that the quarries be closed or moved to another region. Şahin argued that although he conveyed the situation to N.A., the owner of the coal production facility, his request was not met. Officials of the facility where barbecue charcoal is produced did not make a statement.
Explaining the death of his animals with tears, Şahin said, "I am engaged in animal husbandry here. I returned to my village and bought this place with a tender from the state 6 years ago. I was doing business in Istanbul, but I returned because I loved my country. They make barbecue down there. We are in a difficult situation here. Our calves are children. We warned them, but they did not listen. 9 of our calves died in 5 days. I do not even want to come to the barn. They are affected by the smoke. I complained to the gendarmerie, they came and said they could not do anything. The authorities came and "When they opened the animals and looked at them, they said they were affected by the smoke. I am asking for help from my state. This charcoal production site needs to be removed. I have sent the images of each of our dead animals to CIMER. We have a total of 20 more animals that we expect to die."
Yağbasan Village Headman Gazi Yılmaz said, "This is wrong for us. Animals are fed and produced here. The smoke affects the living creatures here. 9 animals have perished. It affects not only the animals but even our village. Precautions need to be taken regarding this. Money is not everything, we need to protect the health of living creatures and nature first. Authorized institutions need to pay attention to this and find a solution."