Minister Özhaseki: ‘We are making our houses steel. Even if an earthquake of 9 magnitude occurs underneath, even if the fault line passes through, it is not possible for that steel structure to collapse’

Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mehmet Özhaseki stated that the houses under construction in earthquake zones are being built with steel, saying, ‘We are making our houses with steel. About 4-5 tons of steel is used. Even if there is an earthquake measuring 9 on the Richter scale, even if the fault line passes under, it is not possible for that steel structure to collapse.’ Minister Özhaseki, who came to Kayseri for a series of visits, visited the tradesmen in Pınarbaşı district and chatted with them. After inspecting the TOKI land in the district, Özhaseki then held a meeting with muhtars and opinion leaders at the Pınarbaşı Municipality Youth Center. Emphasizing that earthquake is a non-partisan issue, Özhaseki said, ‘Unfortunately, people who act ideologically when coming to municipalities do not engage in such collaborations. Journalists ask me, ‘Is there normalization, did a deputy chairman from CHP come?’ We are already normal. We are already here. As someone who has been a minister for two terms, I constantly urge the mayors to carry out urban transformation. The door is wide open. Come from party A to party B, C, D, E. Let them come. Instead of coming, they prevent thousands of people from dying. What kind of ideological obsession is this? The issue of earthquake is a non-partisan issue. Urban planning is a non-partisan issue. It is a matter of service. Service is needed. Right now, we have construction sites in 1,240 locations. We are working with a workforce of 110,000 people. We are building 4,333 village houses. The number of housing units we will deliver by the end of this year is around 200,000. It is the world’s largest construction site there.’ Minister Özhaseki highlighted that houses in earthquake zones are made of steel, adding, ‘We make our houses with steel. About 4-5 tons of steel is used. Even if there is an earthquake measuring 9 on the Richter scale, even if the fault line passes under, it is not possible for that steel structure to collapse. We use mineral wool between them. We use betopan inside and outside. We build sturdy houses. We finish these houses in a short time. Sometimes when I talk about the houses in earthquake zones, I said ‘We are making lovely houses’ because I liked it. All the big party leaders came out and said, ‘Look at that, he is making lovely houses.’ Brother, I swear we are making lovely houses. What else should we do? They say, ‘Where are the houses you delivered, did you give them to your relatives?’ We distributed 76,000 houses, I don’t know anyone among the recipients. Whoever’s house has collapsed becomes the beneficiary, and we give it to them, but our perennial opposition is like this. May God guide them. What can we say. May He show them guidance, may He grant them humanity.’ Speaking at the meeting, MHP Deputy Chairman İsmail Özdemir pointed out the importance of the upcoming election in the district, saying, ‘The Nationalist Movement has always embraced you in Pınarbaşı. The three crescents have always fluttered here with your support, favor, and prayers. I believe that especially this period, especially from June 2nd onwards, the three crescents will flutter here. The very valuable cadres of the People’s Alliance are here in terms of service. Pınarbaşı’s infrastructure needs, superstructure needs, mass housing needs, whatever needs our neighborhoods have from drinking water to sewerage are identified, and there is a great momentum and determination in working to meet them.’ The meeting was also attended by MHP Kayseri Deputy Baki Ersoy and Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Memduh Büyükkılıç.