Sumar has presented a set of eight questions to the Basque Parliament addressed to the Basque Government with the aim of clarifying the episodes of bad odors reported "recurrently" in several municipalities in the metropolitan area of Bilbao.
The spokesperson for the parliamentary group, Jon Hernández, has stressed that "when citizens report repeated episodes of bad odors, institutions have an obligation to investigate, clarify their origin, and explain what measures are being taken."
In this vein, he detailed that Sumar wants to know what information the Department of Industry, Energy Transition, and Sustainability of the Basque Government has, if it has determined possible causes or emission sources, and what inspection, control, or investigation actions have been carried out in recent months.
The party has warned that the absence of clear data "causes uncertainty" and "makes it difficult to evaluate the possible impact of these bad odors on quality of life and the environment." As an example, he cited "the intense and strong stench that once again invades the residents of Arrigorriaga." According to his complaint, "it has been repeating for three years, residents suffer, above all, from headaches and, as they explain, the City Council requested a study and measures from the Basque Government, among other things."
The coalition also demands to know which organizations, entities, or administrations are involved in monitoring these incidents, if violations of environmental regulations have been detected, or if any "file related to these incidents" has been initiated and, if so, "requests to know its current status."
"We need concrete data: how many complaints have been received, in which municipalities, which sources have been investigated, and if there are open files. Citizens cannot be left solely with the nuisance and uncertainty," said Jon Hernández.
In addition, Sumar demands the implementation of measures to prevent these episodes of bad odors from recurring and to reinforce the information provided to the population when such situations occur.
Finally, the party asks if the Basque Government has "specific protocols for the monitoring, evaluation, and communication of episodes of odor pollution."
"Citizens have the right to know what is happening in their environment and what the Basque Government is doing to protect their well-being and the environment," Hernández concluded.