SCB to crack down on illegal mobile towers

Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) is going to crack the whip against mobile phone service providers for installing towers, without seeking permission from them. Many companies had entered into a ten year lease agreement with the building owners and the apartments, without knowledge of the SCB. The residents complained that they are suffering from ill-health and diseases, due to the radiation from its neighbouring communities.

The SCB has taken a serious note and sought the approval in the board meeting and launched a special survey to identify the number of mobile towers installed in the cantonment recently. About 150 such towers were found in Marredpally, Picket, AOC, Balamrai, Diamond Point, Bolaram, Lothkunta and other areas till date. The board has issued notices to all mobile phone companies including Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance, Idea, Tata and BSNL and to building owners and apartments, for installing towers on their roof top, in violation of the provision of the Cantonment Act, 2006. Only fifty per cent of the SCB area was surveyed and there could be over 300 such towers in all the eight wards under the cantonment limits.

Sujatha Gupta, chief executive officer, said, according to the Ministry of Defence, telecom companies need to obtain permission from the board to install mobile towers in different areas. The reason for security implications is because of the presence of many defence and military establishments housed in the cantonment area.

“As per our records, permission was not sought by either building owners or the mobile phone companies for installing the towers. In addition, we have been receiving complaints from residents, citing health concerns,” said Sujatha.

She appealed, “The residents who agree to install cellphone towers should invariably take permission from the SCB, by submitting the required documents. They should seek permission from ministry or the competent authority, after satisfying the security aspects, structural stability and other criteria. In case of building owners who have already entered into agreements with the companies for installing such towers and are enjoying the financial returns, they have to regularised, on the condition that the radiation is within limits. They should also cough up more tax to the board and pay a penalty of Rs 1 lakh.” Recently many residents in Marredpally lodged complaints with the local police station for removal of five such towers, as they were experiencing health issues due to radiation exposure, for the past ten years. Ramulu, a shopkeeper said, his daughter-in-law underwent an abortion in the seventh month. His four-year-old grandson was born with a mental condition and physical disability.