Minister Özhaseki: We will support on-site transformation

Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mehmet Özhaseki said, "If there is no problem with the ground of the demolished house, we will provide support as a state for its transformation on site. We are providing a grant of 500 thousand liras and a loan of 500 thousand liras for a 100 square meter house." Answering the questions of Kemal Öztürk from Habertürk next to the 100 permanent prefabricated houses built by Ciner Group to support disaster victims, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mehmet Özhaseki made important statements. Regarding the number of people who had to leave their places after the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Özhaseki said the following: "The number of people who applied to the state and said 'I want a tent, I will go to a container city or I can stay in dormitories' is 1 million 903 thousand. The number of people currently staying in our tents is around 55 thousand. The smallest group is here. On the one hand, container cities are being built, people are slowly moving there, the number is decreasing. 312 container cities have been established throughout Turkey. There are 467 thousand people in these 312 container cities. Those staying in dormitories, social facilities and hotels are 79 thousand. These are the current numbers." Referring to the ongoing debris removal works in the cities and the complaints about excessive dust formed during these processes, Özhaseki stated that the demolition of severely damaged buildings is continuing, the demolition works in the cities are at 20-25 percent and this work will continue for another 2-3 months. Özhaseki, who stated that in previous tenders held for debris removal and demolition, it was said, "It should be separated on site," said, "This is a dangerous situation in an environment where there are asbestos pipes. It literally spreads poison into the city. We instructed our friends to change the specifications and have these done in the landfill areas, to transport them there as soon as possible, and to speed up the work by revising the specifications with some additional changes if necessary." Özhaseki explained that a tender for 180 thousand earthquake houses was held and that around 90-95% of the construction was complete and said, "Those that have started will be finished within a year. We will increase it to 319 thousand houses." Özhaseki, who stated that they have also developed an on-site transformation formula, said, "If there is no problem with the ground of the demolished house, we will provide support as the state regarding its on-site transformation. We are giving a grant of 500 thousand liras and a loan of 500 thousand liras for a 100 square meter house." "It can barely cover 10 or 15 percent of the loss" When asked for his assessment after being reminded of the Special Consumption Tax and VAT increases, Özhaseki noted the following: "Nobody can happily defend the increase. They cannot say a positive sentence about it. The damage we are faced with is obvious. When Mr. Mehmet, especially in his presentation, mentioned certain increases such as the 2 percent increase in VAT, the increase in Special Consumption Tax, gasoline, diesel fuel, and Motor Vehicle Tax increases, he can barely cover 10 or 15 percent of the loss we are talking about." "I will turn all of our budgets in this direction" "How does our government intend to cover it?" Özhaseki said the following: "Everyone here will save a little more and direct their means in this direction. We have Emlak Konut, EmlakBank, İller Bankası, and Milli Emlak, which includes treasury lands. There is also a general directorate where urban transformation is actually done. I will direct all of their budgets towards this direction. I am establishing a general directorate. It will scan all of the treasury lands, then plan, evaluate, sell and transfer them to these parties. Because the amount of treasury land in the public sector is very high compared to Western countries. When we plan and finalize the treasury lands we have there as soon as possible, offer them to the outside and give them to people in need, we will send the income from there here." Istanbul's earthquake preparations Stating that what can be done regarding a possible Istanbul earthquake should be accelerated, Özhaseki said, "I have prepared a few projects. I will make a presentation to the cabinet about Istanbul's earthquake preparedness in the coming days. Then I will come and share this with all stakeholders in Istanbul." Özhaseki, who stated that there are reserve areas determined by the ministry in Istanbul, said, "We will start housing production in the reserve area as soon as possible."