New Delhi: The MCD on Tuesday said it is yet to
finalise a policy on streamlining unregulated growth of mobile
towers in Delhi and there is no immediate plan to launch any
sealing drive or other action.
A crackdown on illegal cell towers in neighbouring Noida
has led to sealing of 193 such structures after which a large
number of subscribers have experienced network problems.
Amid apprehensions among cellphone users in Delhi that
such a drive could be started by the MCD too, the civic body
made it clear that there is no such immediate plan.
"A new policy on mobile towers will be brought in by the
MCD. The proposal came before the MCD Standing Committee and
now, a committee headed by councillor Meera Agarwal is looking
into the issue. Till the policy is formally finalised, we
cannot take any action," MCD spokesperson Deep Mathur said.
The draft policy to tackle the problem of unregulated
installation of mobile towers, which was brought before the
MCD panel, underlined that cellular service providers will be
able to erect such towers only in non-residential areas.
However, permission will be given for setting up towers on
multi-storied buildings too, it had said.
Those service providers who have illegally set up towers
will have to apply to the MCD for regularisation failing which
the structures will be demolished, the draft had said.
Officials said there are some 2,517 cellphone towers in
the city set up without taking permission from the MCD.
The civic agency had also sought the WHO`s opinion on
health hazards from cellphone towers. According to the MCD,
WHO has viewed that considering the low exposure level and
research results collected to date there is no convincing
scientific evidence to prove adverse impact to humans.
PTI
