BEIRUT: Almost a month after the government approved a controversial plan to install high voltage power lines in Metn, Parliament is set to vote on a new draft law to move the project underground to protect public health.

The draft law, which was signed by 10 MPs, will be put to vote during a legislative session Wednesday.

The proposal poses a challenge to Energy Minister Jibran Bassil, who has insisted that his ministry’s plan to install high voltage power lines aboveground connecting major power stations in Metn’s Bsallim and the Beirut suburb of Aramoun is necessary to improve the country’s failing electricity network.

Raja Noujaim, a civil society activist who has been spearheading the campaign to have the cables put underground, helped prepare the draft law along with MPs Sami Gemayel and Serge Torsarkissian and a group of technical consultants.

In an interview with The Daily Star Tuesday, Noujaim called on MPs to cast their votes Wednesday in line with scientific facts and with their conscience. “Members of Parliament should also vote in to solve the problem because the residents will not give up and they will not let the high voltage power lines be installed aboveground.”

According to Noujaim, Hezbollah and Amal Movement MPs’ support for the draft law will be necessary to resolve the standoff.

“If the allies of the energy minister cast their vote based on political alliances, they should know that a vote in favor of the proposal could save their ally, Bassil, from the problem he is currently in,” he added.

The draft law proposal came after the approval of 10 MPs, including Sami Gemayel, Serge Torsarkissian, Henri Helou, Nadim Gemayel, Marwan Hamadeh, Joseph Maalouf, Shant Chinchinian, Kazem Kheir, Moueen Merabi and Antoine Zahra.

Residents of Metn’s Ain Saadeh, Mansourieh and Mkalles have repeatedly confronted the government’s plans with protest and sit-ins, preventing contractors from installing high voltage power lines. Residents and activists argue that the lines would produce harmful electromagnetic fields. Last month, the government offered to buy the homes of concerned residents, a plan that the home-owners rejected.

“Let it be clear to the government and all officials that residents will never allow the installment of the lines in the area,” said Noujaim, calling on all MPs to endorse the new draft law, which calls for the allocation of LL60 billion to connect the two power stations.

Noujaim said that lawmakers who vote against the will of the people of the area should remember that they will be held accountable in the upcoming 2013 elections.

“MPs should remember that they are elected to serve the citizens’ interests.”

In the Metn towns of Mansourieh and Ain Saadeh, some high voltage lines are already overhead.

“Many experts have closely studied this issue on scientific grounds and the cost on human health and to the environment is much higher than what some ministers claim,” said Noujaim.

“While our government insists on going ahead with the aboveground project, the European Union and several health organizations are warning against electromagnetic fields because they are a major health risk,” he said.

“Even if the direct cost to install the electricity lines underground is higher than installing them above ground, the total cost of keeping them above ground is much higher than the underground system,” he added. “This draft law is the solution to the problem, if they have any other substitute for it, let them tell us.”

The draft also proposes that the existing pylons in the area be dismantled and resold to help finance the electricity project.

“Dismantling the existing aboveground lines in the region and reselling pylons, cables and electric parts would help fund any supplementary or additional cost above the $40 million which is requested in the draft law,” said Noujaim. “The draft also proposes an additional charge of LL10,000 added to monthly bills to help improve the electricity service throughout the country.”

“When you install the underground power lines, you will be cutting costs in the long run and you will turn the region into a tourist-friendly area,” Noujaim said with enthusiasm.