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Objectors lose Belize dam appeal The following text excludes some non-indexable words. For the full text, please register.
UK's Privy Council has dismissed attempts environmentalists block construction controversial dam project jungles Belize.
committee, highest appeal court central American Commonwealth country, did not accept Chalillo dam would threaten rare species.
challenge building 50-metre (165-foot) high Chalillo dam being brought Belize Association Non-governmental Organisations (Bacongo).
dam's backers say most economic option Belize, will lessen its reliance on Mexican energy.
Two out five judges hearing case disagreed with council ruling.
challenge over 50-metre (165-foot) high Chalillo dam brought Belize Association Non-governmental Organisations (Bacongo).
They claimed its approval unlawful due inadequate assessment environmental impact mistakes about rock on which will built.
They believe its power output will not worthwhile say Belize's energy demands can met other ways.
asked council overturn Belizean government's approval dam, order studies its safety impacts, with construction halted meantime.
Functions Privy Council – one oldest parts British Government machine – include final court appeal Commonwealth countries have chosen retain it.
dam being built on Upper Macal River, one largest undisturbed areas wilderness central America, Becol, Belizean subsidiary Canadian multinational, Fortis Inc.
Bacongo says environmental impact assessment dam, the London firm Amec, seriously flawed.
argued:
Upper Macal home rare endangered species, including tapir, Belize's national animal.
Some zoologists believe has high density large cats, including jaguars, ocelots pumas.
Unable migrate
only known Belizean breeding ground rare sub-species scarlet macaw, with 1,000 survivors worldwide.
Sharon Matola, founder Belize Zoo member Bacongo, told BBC News Online: "If dam built will flood macaws' nesting area.
"That will eventually mean their extinction Belize, because don't build nests but live holes trees – trees choose occur nowhere else.
"Tapirs need special vegetation you find area . . . if tapirs go, there'll nothing attract predators like jaguars.
"The dam won't give Belize energy security – it'll produce enough power run three large hotels.
"We could burn sugar cane waste, which abundant, could go on using transmission line Mexico, join new Central American grid that's being planned."
Images courtesy copyright Bacongo.
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