Hindustan Times 08.02.2010
MCD to ring in new tower rules
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has framed a policy to regularise cell phone towers in the city.
The policy will be tabled in the standing committee meeting of the civic body on Tuesday.
The MCD has said mobile towers installed on schools, hospitals and dispensaries will have to be removed in 15 days’ time.
“The installation of mobile towers is not allowed on school buildings and hospitals as per the present policy also,” said Ram Kishan Singhal, chairman of the standing committee of the MCD. “These towers will be removed but at least 15 days’ time will be given so that the network in the city is not affected.”
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, meanwhile, said her government has asked the MCD to remove the illegal towers but without causing inconvenience to people.
The civic agency is yet to decide on the time frame it will give to cellular providers under the new policy.
“We are planning to give cellular providers two weeks to a month to apply for permission under the new policy. Some of the new norms that have been included in the policy is to make the owner of the building a co-applicant while seeking permission to erect a cell tower, taking permission from head of department (building) and RWAs,” Singhal said.
“In case of group housing societies, permission will have to be sought from all flat occupants in the building. Preference will be given to allowing installation of towers over municipal buildings, vacant plots etc in residential areas.”
The MCD’s additional commissioner (engineering) had admitted that out of the 4,532 mobile towers in the city, only 2,015 had requisite permissions and the remaining 2517 were illegal. Out of the 2,500 towers applications, 1,600 were pending with the MCD while 900 were completely illegal.
“The amount payable by the providers for installation of towers will be raised from the current Rs 1 lakh and will vary between Rs 3 and Rs 5 lakh,” said Meera Aggarwal, who heads the sub-committee for formulation of mobile tower policy.
