The distribution of workplaces in the market built by Emlak Konut after the earthquake in Akçadağ caused the reaction of some tradesmen.
The tradesmen who came together stated that there are significant differences between the location of their old workplaces and the new shops allocated to them.
Akçadağ Chamber of Tradesmen President Serdal Karakayış stated that approximately 20-25 tradesmen suffered due to the distribution and said that the main problem stemmed from the differences in frontage and location.
Karakayış said, "Our tradesmen, wherever they have traded for years, want their shop to be given to their place or to a place as close to it as possible. This is people's expectation. Giving what is at the front to the back, and what is at another place to a different point inevitably creates victimization."
Tradesman Ümit Karakuş claimed that there was not enough consultation with the tradesmen during the project phase of the new bazaar and said, "If our Akçadağ Mayor and Emlak Konut officials had consulted more with the tradesmen in this process, most of these problems would not have occurred today."
"SOME TRADESMEN WERE GIVEN TO VERY DIFFERENT POINTS"
Akçadağ Tradesmen's and Craftsmen's Credit and Guarantee Cooperative President Battal Yardımcı stated that it was previously stated that tradesmen would be given shops in locations close to their old workplaces.
Deputy said, "The current situation is obvious to everyone here. In the statements of our esteemed Minister Murat Kurum, there were statements that the workplaces would be placed approximately 5 meters below or 5 meters above their old locations. Our tradesmen also had expectations accordingly. However, when we look at it today, we see that some tradesmen were given very different locations."
Asking for the distribution to be reconsidered, Deputy said, "We do not want anyone to be victimized. People who have been doing business here for years have contributed. The facade, location and commercial value of the workplaces are important."
Headman of Başpınar District, Mehmet Torun, also argued that the frontage situation of the old workplaces was not taken into consideration sufficiently in the distribution, and said, "If a tradesman had three shops next to each other on the front, instead of giving all three to the back, solutions could have been produced such as giving at least two of them close to the current facade and one to another point. If this had been done, this much victimization would not have occurred."
"WE DO NOT ACCEPT KEYS IN THIS CONDITION"
Ali İmer, one of Akçadağ tradesmen, stated that the new workplace distribution created a second grievance for the tradesmen after the problems they experienced after the earthquake.
İmer said, "We have said many times; these works should not be done at a desk, looking only at the project. The tradesmen living here know the commercial structure of Akçadağ, which street is busy, and how much value which shop carries."
İmer, who wanted an independent evaluation regarding the distribution, said:
"I say it on behalf of all our tradesmen friends; we do not want to receive these keys as they are. We want an expert to be appointed. Just as an expert comes in an agricultural disaster, measures the damage and determines a value, the same should be done for workplaces here. Whatever the square meter, facade, commercial location and economic value of the old shop, the new place should be evaluated accordingly. We want a fair measurement and an equitable solution."
“THE SHOP HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE EVEN IF I HAVE THE RIGHTS”
Tradesman Hikmet Algan also explained that he was the rightful owner, but he was not given a workplace in the new project, and said, "We do not accept this project in its current form. Even though I was the rightful owner, I was not given a shop. We had our old workplace, we were doing business here. Now we cannot see our name in the new distribution. Our demand is very clear; our entitlement files should be re-examined. If there is a deficiency or error, let it be revealed. We expect a solution to this grievance from the authorities."
“OUR NAME IS NOT EVEN MENTIONED”
Tradesman Metin Önal stated that he had a shop of around 85-87 square meters before the earthquake and that he was not allocated a workplace in the new bazaar.
Önal said:
"I had a shop of approximately 85-87 square meters. Emlak Konut came and these places were demolished. We were told that a workplace would be given to us on the site or close to our old place. Now when we look at it, our name is not even mentioned. We had a shop, we are entitled to it, but we cannot see a place in return. We already had great economic difficulties after the earthquake.
We lost our workplace and could not trade for a long time. Now, while we want to get back to work, we are also faced with such a problem. “We want our file to be re-examined and to be given the place we deserve.”
