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".
