Mobile phone tower in congested area irks residents

Mobile phone tower in congested area irks residents

MUDASIR YAQOOB

Srinagar, July 18: Residents of Haka Bazar, Badamwari, here have demanded immediate shifting of mobile phone tower from the locality. They allege that the tower is without permission. 

“The tower, which is located in the congested area, has become a nuisance for us,” they said.
Interestingly, according to the locals they had shown stiff resistance to the installation of the tower at the very initial stage. “We even voiced our concern through media, yet the authorities went ahead with their plan to install it,” they said. 

“We have made representations to the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC). We even filed a complaint with the Chief Minister Grievance Cell and State Pollution Control Board, but our requests have yielded no results,” they complained.

“The tower is just nine feet away from my home. This is flagrant violation of the guidelines of Department of Telecommunications (DoT) which provide that any cellular tower carrying minimum of two antennas should be at least 35 meters (114 feet) away from a residential premise,” Imran, a local said, adding that the tower has multiple antennas.

Locals said a High School is also running within the close vicinity of the tower. “The school management has made a complaint in this behalf, but to no avail as the authorities as well as the company seem to be playing indifferent to our plight,” they said.

“The high radiation from the tower is a silent killer. The noise and air pollution caused by DG set installed for the tower don’t allow us to sleep during the night,” they said.

The locals said: “The Deputy Commissioner Srinagar vide order no. DCS/PS-order/12/5682-85 dated 04-12-2012 had ordered immediate closure of the DG set, but that order was never implemented.”

Meanwhile, the locals appealed the government to intervene into the matter.

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2013/Jul/19/mobile-phone-tower-in-congested-area-irks-residents-32.asp