Residents of the village of Beskol in the North Kazakhstan region are complaining about an unbearable smell, the source of which they cannot find, reports infohub.kz.
According to Almaty.tv, residents of the suburban village of Beskol dream of opening their windows wide these days, but are forced to keep them tightly shut and endure the stuffiness all summer. The reason is a sharp, acrid smell that often envelops the area. People say the stench is especially strong in the evening.
“When you burn a duck or geese, that’s where the smell comes from, and manure. Well, manure has been around for a long time. Of course, it’s hard; I live right nearby. My elderly mother, I have to take her by the arm to go outside for fresh air. What fresh air is there? Mom is 100 years old, and the kids too – when they come home, their clothes all smell,” said Beskol resident Yenshibai Bashenov.
Other residents confirm his words.
“It’s impossible to air out the house because there’s an unbearable smell. Either it’s a duck farm, or it’s droppings, I don’t know whose, or it’s burning feathers – well, it’s just unbearable. A rotten stench. There wasn’t such a smell before. Something needs to be done about it,” laments Beskol resident Madina Shopshibayeva.
No one can say exactly where the terrible stench originates. People suspect nearby enterprises. Possible sources include several poultry farms and a protein plant, but so far it’s just a theory. Elderly villagers suffer the most from the unpleasant smell.
Local authorities have responded to the constant complaints. Specialized services are expected to determine the source of the stench.
“There are several enterprises – yes. We don’t know where the smell comes from. So today we need to find out, go out as a commission, visit them, and do all that work,” said Bauyrzhan Musin, akim of the Beskol rural district.
Journalists also contacted representatives of one of the enterprises mentioned by residents. But they deny all suspicions.
“We do not burn any fallen livestock. We have all the relevant documents and contracts. We send it for processing. For our part, we are ready for any inspections,” said Magzhan Avke, a representative of the enterprise.
Now the commission is expected to put an end to the story. It must determine what exactly is spoiling the air in Beskol and whether the enterprises are to blame. If the cause of the stench is not found, residents intend to report the problem to higher authorities.