The Times of India 12.03.2013
Special rules to set up cell phone towers
BHUBANESWAR: The state government has asked the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) to finalize special regulations for installation of telecom towers in Bhubaneswar and other urban areas in the state within 15 days.
State housing and urban development (H&UD) secretary Injeti Srinivas, while reviewing the progress of the proposed regulation on February 28, has asked the BDA to expedite the finalization so that it can be sent to the H&UD for vetting and subsequent approval.
"We have almost completed the draft regulation. We will send it to the government for approval within a week," BDA vice-chairman Vishal Dev told TOI.
Once the special regulation is in place, the BDA and the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be empowered to regulate the process of installation of telecom infrastructure towers in the state capital.
As of now, there is virtually no regulation on the installation of towers, leading to mushrooming of illegal towers in Bhubaneswar. The city at present has nearly 265 towers of different private telecom companies. Though the state commerce and transport department had a few years ago formulated certain guidelines for the erection of towers, there was ambiguity over the executing authority.
"The existing guidelines are silent on who can take on the offenders. Recently, the BMC attempted to dismantle an illegal tower. But the company moved the court and got a stay order," said an H&UD officer. "While the BMC provides no-objection certificate, the BDA grants the permission for constructing towers on buildings," he added. The civic body charges Rs 12,400 for providing NOC for each tower and Rs 3,400 for renewal of the licenses annually.
Citizens have also expressed their concern on the issue after H&UD minister Raghunath Mohanty had admitted in the assembly last year that a few towers had been installed in the city illegally. "In some cases, towers have been constructed on age-old buildings, jeopardizing lives of people. Radio frequencies generated from the towers are also harmful for people," said Pramod Mohanty, a senior citizen.
Significantly, the school and mass education department had in September last year asked district administrations not to allow cell phone towers on school premises in view of health hazards.
State housing and urban development (H&UD) secretary Injeti Srinivas, while reviewing the progress of the proposed regulation on February 28, has asked the BDA to expedite the finalization so that it can be sent to the H&UD for vetting and subsequent approval.
"We have almost completed the draft regulation. We will send it to the government for approval within a week," BDA vice-chairman Vishal Dev told TOI.
Once the special regulation is in place, the BDA and the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be empowered to regulate the process of installation of telecom infrastructure towers in the state capital.
As of now, there is virtually no regulation on the installation of towers, leading to mushrooming of illegal towers in Bhubaneswar. The city at present has nearly 265 towers of different private telecom companies. Though the state commerce and transport department had a few years ago formulated certain guidelines for the erection of towers, there was ambiguity over the executing authority.
"The existing guidelines are silent on who can take on the offenders. Recently, the BMC attempted to dismantle an illegal tower. But the company moved the court and got a stay order," said an H&UD officer. "While the BMC provides no-objection certificate, the BDA grants the permission for constructing towers on buildings," he added. The civic body charges Rs 12,400 for providing NOC for each tower and Rs 3,400 for renewal of the licenses annually.
Citizens have also expressed their concern on the issue after H&UD minister Raghunath Mohanty had admitted in the assembly last year that a few towers had been installed in the city illegally. "In some cases, towers have been constructed on age-old buildings, jeopardizing lives of people. Radio frequencies generated from the towers are also harmful for people," said Pramod Mohanty, a senior citizen.
Significantly, the school and mass education department had in September last year asked district administrations not to allow cell phone towers on school premises in view of health hazards.
