New Delhi:
Mobile users in Delhi can heave a sigh of relief as the Muncipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Tuesday said it would not go for a sealing drive of "illegal" cell phone towers in the city, but maintained that the operators who have erected such structures will have to apply for regularisation within a month.
As the civic agency's new policy on mobile towers was approved by the MCD Standing Committee, the panel's Chairman Ram Kishan Singhal said, "We do not want to create a panic situation in Delhi and disrupt cell network. We will not launch a sealing drive against illegal towers."
Singhal, however, asserted that all operators who have erected cell towers without permission will have to apply to MCD for regularisation within one month. In case of non-compliance, the structures will be dismantled according to the policy, he said.
The ruling BJP in MCD also maintained that the health hazards of cell towers have not been scientifically proved.
"The MCD sought advice from WHO in this matter, which has opined that considering the very low exposure level and research results, there is no convincing evidence that the weak signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects," BJP councillors Vijender Gupta said.
According to the revised guidelines for cell towers, the amount payable by the service providers to MCD for installing a tower has been increased from the present Rs one lakh to Rs 5 lakh, said Meera Aggarwal, who headed the sub-committee for formulation of the policy that submitted its report on Tuesday.
"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 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.
"In case of group housing societies, permission will have to be sought from all flat occupants in the building," Singhal said.
The amount payable by the providers to MCD for installation of a tower will be increased from the present amount of Rs one lakh and will vary between Rs 3 to 5 lakh, said Meera Aggarwal, who is heading the sub-committee for formulation of mobile tower policy.
Aggarwal said the MCD would take a middle way so that there are no health hazards and the cell network is also not disrupted.
The MCD has also decided to give preference to those places for setting up of tower which are visited by people for least time period, like markets and shopping places.
Singhal today called a meeting to discuss the policy of erection of cell towers. Agarwal and other members of the sub-committee, Additional Commissioner (Engg) R K Srivastava, Chief Town Planner V K Bugga, Chief Law Officer Gian Parkash and Zonal Deputy Commissioners were present in the meeting.
As the civic agency's new policy on mobile towers was approved by the MCD Standing Committee, the panel's Chairman Ram Kishan Singhal said, "We do not want to create a panic situation in Delhi and disrupt cell network. We will not launch a sealing drive against illegal towers."
Singhal, however, asserted that all operators who have erected cell towers without permission will have to apply to MCD for regularisation within one month. In case of non-compliance, the structures will be dismantled according to the policy, he said.
The ruling BJP in MCD also maintained that the health hazards of cell towers have not been scientifically proved.
"The MCD sought advice from WHO in this matter, which has opined that considering the very low exposure level and research results, there is no convincing evidence that the weak signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects," BJP councillors Vijender Gupta said.
According to the revised guidelines for cell towers, the amount payable by the service providers to MCD for installing a tower has been increased from the present Rs one lakh to Rs 5 lakh, said Meera Aggarwal, who headed the sub-committee for formulation of the policy that submitted its report on Tuesday.
"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 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.
"In case of group housing societies, permission will have to be sought from all flat occupants in the building," Singhal said.
The amount payable by the providers to MCD for installation of a tower will be increased from the present amount of Rs one lakh and will vary between Rs 3 to 5 lakh, said Meera Aggarwal, who is heading the sub-committee for formulation of mobile tower policy.
Aggarwal said the MCD would take a middle way so that there are no health hazards and the cell network is also not disrupted.
The MCD has also decided to give preference to those places for setting up of tower which are visited by people for least time period, like markets and shopping places.
Singhal today called a meeting to discuss the policy of erection of cell towers. Agarwal and other members of the sub-committee, Additional Commissioner (Engg) R K Srivastava, Chief Town Planner V K Bugga, Chief Law Officer Gian Parkash and Zonal Deputy Commissioners were present in the meeting.
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