RTI reveals illegal cellphone tower at housing colony in Mulund
26 Feb, 2013In a special general body meet of a housing society in Mulund in 2010, it was decided after strong opposition that a mobile phone tower be constructed on the building which has 32 flats and nine shops. Subsequently the tower was installed in early 2010. However, in its reply to an application filed by a neighbouring society under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has stated that the tower in question was illegal and a notice to stop the work was issued in April 2010.
Following the notice, the tower was deactivated but the committee reactivated the tower with the help of cellphone service providers. The residents of the society claim that the reactivation is illegal and that the tower doesn’t have the approval of the health department. The telecom provider pays an annual rent of Rs. 3.5 lakhs to the housing society.
Though the ex-chairman of the committee stated that letter to remove the tower was sent to the provider long ago, the present chairman claimed that it has been sent recently and that the mobile tower will be removed in March, 2013. It has been claimed that there is a high court order that prevents dismantling of tower.
There are many telecom towers across the country which are said to have been installed against the laws.