ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER – February 2014
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE SAFE IN AN EARTHQUAKE!
We also need to address the citizen-facing aspects of Law No. 6306. We have often discussed and commented on this law in terms of national benefits, but to achieve these benefits, it is crucial to clearly communicate what the law offers to citizens.
We know that tens of thousands of buildings in our country and in our city have insufficient earthquake resistance. You might think this is a rough estimate, but any building constructed before the year 2000 carries some degree of risk when it comes to earthquakes. Until 2011, Turkey's building inspection system was only applied in pilot provinces. Unfortunately, this very delayed implementation has resulted in a building stock with insufficient earthquake resistance.
It is not feasible to think of the government renewing all of these buildings at once. However, we must see Law No. 6306 as a significant starting point. So, what is this law? What does it offer to citizens?
Let’s consider the citizens living in a single-apartment, four-story masonry building in one of Elazığ’s central neighborhoods. Let’s assume the average price of an apartment is 60,000 TL. Apart from its monetary value, the most significant problem is that these citizens live with their families in homes with insufficient earthquake resistance (Let’s not forget the saying, "Earthquakes don’t kill, buildings kill!"). Under Law No. 6306, citizens can renovate their homes with flexible repayment loans, even receiving rent assistance. The value of the newly renovated home will increase at least twice the value of the old one. This results in significant gains, both financially and in terms of peace of mind, allowing for a comfortable, fearless sleep at night.
There’s an even greater benefit beyond this. For instance, in places like Sürsürü and Abdullah Paşa, there are apartment complexes built twenty or thirty years ago. Citizens living in these earthquake-vulnerable buildings can benefit from Law No. 6306, and even renovate their homes without using loans. Since these five-story buildings, constructed in the past, can be rebuilt as structures taller than five stories under Law No. 6306, citizens can hand over their buildings to contractors. While their buildings are being rebuilt, they can receive rent assistance. Once the construction is finished, they can take possession of their apartment, and the contractor can sell the extra apartments to make a profit.
What we truly wish for is not just the renovation of individual buildings, but the renewal of entire neighborhoods. With wide streets, parks, and parking lots, a livable city is the primary goal of Law No. 6306. However, unfortunately, it seems that urban transformation will focus on renewing buildings in central neighborhoods. If we consider the events that occurred after the earthquake in Van, it seems we might have to settle for the renewal of just buildings.
Law No. 6306 is not for:
- Extracting oil from a mosquito,
- A chance to make a quick profit,
- The peak point of rent-seeking.
Law No. 6306 is about the government being by the side of its citizens, providing them with the opportunity to look to the future with confidence.
Citizens can access all the information they need regarding this law on the official website of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization (http://www.csb.gov.tr/gm/altyapi/).
Let’s do something for ourselves, for our families, for Elazığ, and for Turkey. Let’s support, understand, and implement urban transformation within the scope of Law No. 6306.