The Indian Express            10.07.2013

BMC’s draft policy may help regularise illegal mobile towers

The draft policy, prepared over the last nine months taking into
consideration suggestions from citizen groups and cellular operators,
was submitted to the UD department in the first week of July. Municipal
Commissioner Sitaram Kunte said, “We have drafted the proposal in line
with the department of telecommunication (DoT) guidelines and in future,
BMC guidelines will be streamlined with those of the DoT.”

BMC has agreed to one of the most important demands of citizens
that the towers should not be installed atop schools, colleges,
hospitals, orphanages, child rehabilitation centres and old age homes.
However, it has added a caveat that the final policy would be compatible
with DoT guidelines.

Following protests by citizens, DoT in May removed a clause in
its draft guidelines which said installation of towers may be permitted
for all locations irrespective of land use. DoT’s final guidelines are
awaited.

To another crucial suggestion that mobile tower antennae should
not be allowed on any adjoining building within three metre from
schools, colleges, etc, BMC policy says, “The condition can be dropped.
The modified condition that the provision of antennae or mobile towers
shall be compatible with the guidelines issued by DoT from time to
time.”

According to a survey conducted in 2011 by BMC, over 1,830 of the
total 3,705 cellphone towers were illegal. Even as BMC contemplated
action against service providers, they approached Bombay High Court and
obtained a stay. BMC plans to put up the list of authorised towers on
its website.

BMC has said the new policy, once approved by the state, will be
implemented with retrospective effect. So towers in the city — legal and
illegal — will have to meet all conditions in the policy.

A critical aspect that citizens’ groups would watch for in the final
DoT guidelines is its recommendation on mobile towers atop schools,
colleges, hospitals, old age homes and orphanages. DoT has said its
final guidelines would be advisory in nature and that state governments/
civic bodies can modify them as per local demographics.

Several citizens termed thedraft as an eyewash. “These guidelines
do not make sense before the final DoT guidelines are released. Crucial
suggestions are likely to be sidelined in case the DoT does not
implement them,” said Prakash Munshi, a south Mumbai resident.

“The guidelines must be based on technology; we do not want to
freeze them,” said a senior civic official, adding that “if this means
that the DoT guidelines will allow for towers on schools, etc, then the
BMC guidelines will be modified”.