The Hindu 14.12.2013
Illegal cell towers: telecom companies get 2-day reprieve
After initiating a crackdown on unauthorised
telecommunication infrastructure towers, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal
Corporation (GHMC) on Friday allowed two more days to telecom companies
to seek necessary approvals.
The civic body had on
Thursday disconnected power supply to nearly 240 unauthorised towers,
following which representatives of telecom companies made a plea,
seeking time to complete the necessary formalities as mandated by GO
Ms.380. “They promised to apply and seek the required approvals in the
next two days, and we gave them time,” GHMC Additional Commissioner
(Planning) D. Ronald Rose said.
According to
officials, a database prepared by the civic body three years ago says
there are 3,500 towers in the city. The number could have crossed the
6,000-mark by now. However, the number of towers which have approval has
not crossed the double-digit mark, they added.
“We
have been after them all these days and even served notices, asking them
to seek necessary approvals. We held meetings and also provided them
with an online portal to facilitate filing of details. Still, there has
been no prompt response from cell tower companies,” Mr. Rose said.
The
officials said citizens had made complaints about unauthorised towers
in various parts of the city, and that their grievances were regularly
received during the Prajavani programme.
According to
official orders, installation of telecommunication towers, which
include ground-based towers, roof-top towers and poles, cell phone
towers, antenna fixtures and fabricated antenna should follow the
prescribed guidelines, and permission for installing them should be
sought from the local municipal authority. The local body commissioner
is authorised to take necessary action for failure of compliance.
We
have been after them all these days and even served notices, asking
them to seek necessary approvals. We held meetings and also provided
them with an online portal to facilitate filing of details. Still, there
has been no prompt response from cell tower companies.
D. Ronald Rose, Additional Commissioner, GHMC (Planning) GHMC has already disconnected power supply to 240 unauthorised towers.
