The Council of Ministers has decided to revoke the licenses of eight inactive stone quarries in the TRNC.
The ministerial council decision was published in the TRNC’s official gazette.
In a step taken to prevent further ecological damage to the country, the council of ministers’ decision means that the number of stone quarries has dropped from 54 to 46.
Four out of the eight stone quarries are located in Kozanköy, two in Serhatköy and the remaining two quarries are in Bellapais.
Director of the Geology and Mining Department Ayşe Toroslu Özhür, stated that all licenses for inactive quarries will be revoked, step by step. 21 of the 46 quarries currently are active and 25 are not in operation, she said.
Environmental Engineers’ Chamber President Doğuç Veysioğlu said that while the decision to revoke eight licences was a positive step, the number of quarries should be reduced and the scope of quarrying should be narrowed. He added that the closed quarries should also be rehabilitated.
The remaining operational quarries produce sand, gravel, marble, gypsum and building stone.
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