Indian Express 15.12.2009
After WHO call, civic body eases rules for mobile towers
Less than six months after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi announced its decision to curb the increasing number of cellular towers in the Capital, the civic body has altered its track.
Following a study conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the MCD, the civic body has come up with a set of revised guidelines to allow installation of cellular towers at a reduced cost of Rs 1 lakh per site as permission charges.
The civic agency had sought WHO’s opinion on cell phone towers being hazardous to human health and the study held that there “is not enough scientific evidence to prove that the cellular towers pose health hazards.”
As per the revised regulations, no-objection certificates will be issued for the installation of cellular towers only in non-residential buildings and multi-storeyed group housing buildings. Further, the MCD has directed mobile network operators to refrain from installing towers near schools and hospital premises, considering that “children and patients are more susceptible to electro-magnetic field.”
According to MCD officials, while the revised regulation has reduced the permission charge from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 lakh, it also has provisions to reduce arbitrary or illegal installation of cellular towers. Those who have illegally set up cell phone towers will now have to apply to the MCD for regularisation, failing which the tower will be brought down, the regulations specify.
“A total of 2,517 cell phone towers were set up illegally. An opportunity is being given to them to apply for regularisation. If they meet the criteria the tower will be legalised. They need to apply within six months otherwise the tower will be demolished,” a senior MCD official said.
Recently, in response to an RTI application, MCD additional commissioner (Engineering) had admitted that out of 4,532 mobile towers in the city, only 2,015 have requisite permissions.
The revised guidelines also state that the network operators will also have to get prior approvals from the from the Airports Authority of India, Delhi Urban Arts Commission, Chief Fire Officer, Archaeological Survey of India and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for each site where the base station or the towers are to be installed.
The operators will also need to obtain structural safety certificates from either the Indian Institute of Technology, the Central Building Research Institute, the Rail India Technical and Economic Services limited or the National Council for Building Material.
Revised guidelines
* Permission charge reduced from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 lakh
* Provision to legalise towers
* No towers near schools, hospitals
* Approval from other state agencies required
* Structural safety certificate necessary
