HC rejects 'stop Rampal' petition

The High Court has quashed a writ petition seeking a stay on the execution of the 1320MW Rampal coal-fired power plant.

The HC bench of Justice M Moazzam Husain and Justice Md Badruzzaman gave the order on Sunday.

It was referred to their bench on Wednesday when Justice Zafar Ahmed, in another bench with Justice Naima Haider, said he was 'uncomfortable' hearing the petition.

Advocate Manzil Morshed, on behalf of four lawyers, filed the petition on Sep 29, seeking a stay on the project until a detailed evaluation has been made.

On Saturday, the foundation stone of the coal-fired plant project was jointly laid by the prime ministers of Bangladesh and India, who joined the event through video-conferencing.

The petition sought a rule for a detailed evaluation of the project by a committee of 'globally acclaimed' environmentalists.

The committee would study the proposed plant's impact on the Sundarban's fragile eco-system and people living in the area, the petition suggested.

It also sought an order for the power plant's relocation to a ecologically less vulnerable place.