Amid Nahhas-Charbel Clash, Cabinet Approves Installing High-Voltage Lines in Mansouriyeh
The cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal by the Energy and Water Ministry to resume the controversial installation of high-voltage electricity lines in the Metn area of Mansouriyeh-Ain Saadeh, amid a verbal clash during the session between Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.
Briefing reporters after the session, Information Minister Walid al-Daouq said Premier Najib Miqati stressed the importance of “solidarity” among the cabinet members and the need to avoid any dispute.
“Is it acceptable to say that the cabinet is obstructing the projects” planned by the ministries, Daouq quoted Miqati as saying.
Meanwhile, MTV reported that “the cabinet has approved item 37 which is related to the installation of high-voltage electricity lines in Mansouriyeh.”
“Buildings adjacent to the lines will be bought by the state and the Lebanese army will escort the energy ministry teams during the installation process,” the TV network said.
Citing possible health risks posed by electromagnetic fields, residents of the Mansouriyeh-Ain Saadeh area have been strongly opposed to the installation of the high-voltage power cables near their homes.
But Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil argues that the project does not pose any health threats.
During its upcoming session on Tuesday, the cabinet will resume its discussions on the issue of electricity and the draft state budget, the information minister announced.
MTV also said the cabinet session witnessed a fierce exchange of tirades between Nahhas and Charbel during the discussion of the item on police recruitment.
“Nahhas surprised the ministers by demanding the sacking of (Internal Security Forces chief) Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, wondering why Rifi has not been penalized over the issue of the second floor of the telecom ministry building,” MTV said.
According to the TV network, Charbel responded by saying that “this thing should have been done under the tenure of (ex-interior minister Ziad) Baroud and I won’t allow its occurrence while I’m in office.”
“Charbel almost stormed out of the session, but Miqati and some ministers convinced him to change his mind,” MTV said.
In May 2011, the ISF prevented then caretaker telecom minister Nahhas, several directors at the ministry, and a technical team from entering one of the ministry’s buildings at the Adlieh area in Beirut.
At the time Nahhas described the incident as a “coup” led by the ISF.
The incident eventually led to the resignation of then caretaker interior minister Baroud, who said he had not been aware of Rifi’s actions.
12 years
Who's gonna foot the future chemotherapy bills in Mansourieh?
12 years
Don't forget to include the Shia need to start paying and stop living off the handouts of others. They are bankrupting the country.
12 years
Nahhas wasnt even supposed to go to the Telecom ministry when the governemnt was a caretaker governement and he has no right to go there legally without the permission accorded during a normal cabinet session. The ISF did its job according to the law, and anyway the telecom ministry is under Sehnaoui now which is FPM so they can do what they please with it, and i did not see any major incident since then. Whether Nahhas was right or wrong he did not have authority to go out there and do what he wants.
12 years
Why doesn't BAssil put the high voltage lines over his own house? disgusting.
Why doesn't the army escort electric collections in Dahyeh and Ouzai?! Disgusting
12 years
Seems that Interior Minister has been rerouted into the Mustaqbal orbit!!! Wonder how much he's been paid for such silly claims, and for not bearing his responsibilities as a minister!
12 years
Alla la ywaffe2koun!!!!!
12 years
the filthy zionist wanted to say something related to the article but they failed like always
12 years
in all civilised countries goverments try to find solutions to bury high voltage lines... only in lebanon do they spit on scientific studies showing the hazard of those lines despising once again the lebanese citizens!
12 years
@ Mowaten, with all do respect, i am no one, just as you are, but i am a citizen of Lebanon, and when Nahhas when to the telecom ministry, he was obstructed because he wanted to remove cables from the telecoms, and it was A CARETAKER governement, which means its only here to supervise if everything is ok, not to go dismantle things . And Nahhas did not even transfer the profits of the telecom to the governement because it didnt recognize as legal anymore because of it was a caretaker governement , so why does he have the right to act as a telecom minister then if for him the whole governemnt is a caretaker one and isnt suppose to act like a governemnt? And by the way, Baroud was a good minister, but he was neutral, like Sleiman, he didnt want to make any problems , its not because he opposed to Rifi's intervention. We cannot blame always the ISF Mowaten, it was there also in Tripoli to beat up Hariri fans when they burned tires and on illegal constructions.
All these poor excuses for human beings better know as "Aounieh" are bent on destroying whatever is left of this sorry excuse for a country... I have yet to find more despicable individuals that could be worse than the likes of Nahhas and Bassil... Just like their senile and also despicable leader...