The Indian Express 22.03.2013
Movable cellphone towers exploit policy loophole
Telecom companies have come up with a unique way to keep its users, especially VIPs, connected.
The companies have placed cellphone towers on trailers or carts
with wheels to keep the structures mobile — a trick that makes them easy
to move in case civic agencies object to their positioning.
To ensure better network coverage in Lutyens’ Delhi, telecom
companies have placed these mobile towers in parking lots, near clubs
and hospitals. New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has no information on
at least six such towers in its area.
“The Delhi Urban Art Commission forbids installation of cellphone
towers in the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone. We realised just now that almost
six towers have come up on municipal land in areas like Safdarjung
Enclave, Khan Market, Patiala House, Gole Market, Shanker Market and
Chanakyapuri. We do not have a policy to place these towers outside a
building or on council premises. We have not been given permission for
installation of these towers. We will take action against such towers,” a
senior NDMC official said.
According to the NDMC Architect department, the policy for
allowing telecom towers in the area is that the structure should be
inside a building — on the ground floor or rooftop.
“We have 120 mobile towers in our jurisdiction and four are
located on school buildings, which are now non-operational. Enforcement
department should look out for towers that come up on open land,” the
official said.
These movable cellphone towers are a becoming nuisance for civic
officials. According to a senior official of South Municipal
Corporation, the trick is to keep the structure mobile in case a civic
agency objects and levies penalty.
“There are cases that have come to our notice, like movable mobile
towers placed on roads that were formerly with the corporation and were
recently transferred to PWD. Now, when our licensing department or
enforcement department goes to check these illegal towers, it takes
months to find out in whose jurisdiction the towers are located. By
then, the companies find another place to station the towers,” a senior
South corporation official said.
Officials are now poring over policies and Acts to find a permanent solution for the issue of movable towers.
