The odor problem, which has become chronic in Bolu, has driven the people to desperation; a call for a permanent solution

Citizens living in the Yukarısoku and Aşağısoku neighborhoods of Bolu province are subjected to an disturbing odor problem whose intensity increases especially with the arrival of summer months. The fact that this environmental issue, which has been going on for years, significantly reduces the quality of life in the region causes the daily routines of the local people to be disrupted. The fact that the odor is felt regardless of night and day leads to increased unhappiness and stress among the residents, while the chronicity of the situation creates great distress.

With the rise in air temperatures above seasonal norms, the heavy odor, whose effect becomes even more pronounced, has virtually trapped citizens in their homes. Individuals residing in the neighborhood face this obstacle even when they want to ventilate their homes and get fresh air, stating that they no longer have the opportunity to open their windows. The restriction of access to a healthy living space negatively affects the physical and psychological health of the entire region, especially children and the elderly. Citizens, due to being deprived of clean air, have become unable to feel comfortable even indoors and their participation in social life is restricted.

The fact that no official and clear determination has yet been made regarding the source of this negativity further increases the concern and anxiety among the residents. The inability to fully identify the source of the odor delays steps towards a solution, while reactions grow towards the issue being smoothed over only with temporary and superficial measures. The neighborhood population insists on a scientific and comprehensive investigation for a radical solution to the problem and demands action with concrete data. The uncertainty brought by the unknown deepens citizens' concerns about the future.

Calls to authorities for the end of the suffering are gaining strength day by day and turning into a demand for urgent intervention. The people of Bolu want local government authorities and the environment directorate to show sensitivity to the issue and eliminate the problem not with temporary solutions but with permanent planning. The biggest expectation of the citizens is that the actual source of the odor is determined as soon as possible and the necessary works are started immediately. Residents of the region, wishing to make their voices heard, expect their demands for a healthy environment and right to life, which are valid for everyone, to be met urgently.

The return of daily life, held captive in the Yukarısoku and Aşağısoku neighborhoods of Bolu, to normal depends on the results of scientific examinations to be conducted and the success of the projects to be implemented. It is of great importance for keeping the hopes of the residents alive that the local government roll up its sleeves on the issue and take decisive steps to solve the problem. Citizens, who argue that environmental issues should be prioritized for the welfare and peace of society, demand that the interest shown to them be increased. Consequently, every step to be taken to raise living standards in the region and enable people to live under healthy conditions holds critical value.