Adani wind energy project challenged in top court

Adani Green Energy’s wind energy project, which will be built in Sri Lanka’s northern Mannar and Pooneryn districts, has been challenged in the island’s apex court on the grounds of potential environmental impact and “lack of transparency.”

The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), one of Sri Lanka’s oldest environmental organizations, was established over a century ago. åçfiled a Fundamental Rights petition at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka with the aim of “protecting the unique ecosystem of Mannar Island.”

The Society’s petition argues that the project “poses a severe threat to the island’s unique biodiversity and pristine landscapes,” especially in Mannar. Mannar is the “southernmost point of the Central Asian Flyway used by innumerable migratory species” and is home to several indigenous water bird and bat species, the WNPS said.

The petition contends that Sri Lankan authorities’ decision to approve the project disregarded Mannar’s “singular positioning as a biodiversity hub.”