The Electricity and Renewable Energy Consumers Association today filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an Interim Order staying the proposed Ground Mounted Solar power project.
The subject matter of this petition is the installation of small-scale Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Plants close to the existing distribution substations (transformers) in rural areas.
The petitioners have cited Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma, Ceylon Electricity Board, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka and several others as respondents.
The petitioners are seeking a declaration that the respondents should achieve the Renewable Energy Goals of Sri Lanka through Solar power plants by utilizing the rooftops, highway mounted solar energy generating systems and other compatible systems which are widely used by other countries, without damaging the environment and the existing ecological system of the country, including the vegetation and forest cover.
The petitioners state that the proposed project would cause environmental degradation with land clearing and cutting down trees.
The petitioners are further seeking a declaration that there is an imminent infringement of Fundamental Rights of the electricity consumers, small-scale solar industrialists, and the public, guaranteed under Article 12(1), 14(g), and 14(h) of the Constitution.
