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Despite a ban imposed by the Supreme Court against installation of mobile towers on school and hospital premises, mobile towers continue to operate from at least seven school buildings and four nursing homes in east Delhi.
Mobile towers are operating from school buildings and nursing homes despite the fact that East Delhi Municipal Corporation had identified the towers in November last year.
Around six months ago, East Corporation had done a survey of all the mobile towers operating in the areas under its jurisdiction to identify illegal towers. Out of 1,470 mobile towers operating in east Delhi, 588 were found illegal.
According to corporation officials, 26 towers were sealed for flouting norms.
Health hazard
While the civic body failed to seal over 95 per cent of the illegal towers, the municipal councillors have alleged that more illegal towers are coming up in their areas, spelling health hazard for residents.
“Two towers are coming up in my area. One in Jagdamba Colony and the other in Bhagriti Vihar for which no permission has been taken from the competent authorities. Residents in the area are raising concern over the issue,” said Sanjay Kaushik, deputy chairman of standing committee, EDMC.
Raising the issue in the standing committee, former chairman Mehak Singh highlighted that the officials have failed to crack down on the towers despite the fact that the survey was conducted several months ago.
“The data of illegal towers provided by the officials on Thursday is similar to the figures which were produced in the standing committee meeting on November 22 last year. That shows nothing has been to check illegal towers,” said Singh.
Responding to the concern of the councillors, East Corporation commissioner S Kumarswamy said they are taking action against illegal towers and they would be sealed in a time-bound manner.
“Over the last 2-3 days, three towers have been sealed. We are making an action plan and likley to launch a special drive from next week. We aim at sealing all the illegal towers within three months of time,” said Kumarswamy.
The commissioner added that court cases delayed the sealing drive.
“In several cases, the operators got relief from the court. Some towers which were sealed had to be given permission to operate as per the court orders,” he said.