SC orders Northern Power Com. to pay Rs 20 M

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court today ordered the Northern Power Company to pay Rs 20 million to offset a part of the substantial loss, harm and damage to the residents in the Chunnakam area.

The Northern Power Company operated a thermal power station in Chunnakam that polluted groundwater resulting in the water being unfit for human use.

Justice Prasanna Jayawardena who concurred with Justices Priyantha Jayawardane and Lalith Dehideniya in his judgment held that failures, omissions and inaction on the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Board of Investment (BoI) were arbitrary and unreasonable and in breach of the public reposed on them.

The court held that thereby they violated the fundamental right of the residents of Chunnakam and the petitioner. (S.S.Selvanayagam)