The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is in the process of making tough guidelines to check the illegal mushrooming telecom towers in the city.
BDA Vice-Chairman Vishal Dev recently reviewed the situation and a decision has been taken to take the help of a Delhi-based corporate and business law firm to prepare the guidelines.
BDA Secretary Shreekanta Kabi said, “The BDA has already entrusted the work to Singhania and Partners, a Delhi-based corporate and business law firm, to prepare regulations to check the illegal mushrooming of telecom towers. The firm will give us its presentation on the regulation on April 1.”
Kabi added, “After getting the draft regulation from the law firm, we may make some necessary modifications, if needed. The draft guidelines will be sent to the Government.”
Official sources said the State now has no legal framework or policy on installation of telecom towers, as a result of which scores of illegal towers have bristled up across the city. Currently, the city has nearly 405 towers of different private telecom companies.
The towers in residential areas and atop buildings have put life and property of the people at stake.
“Radiations generated from the telecom towers are harmful for people. Through this new legislation, we will ensure safety and security of people. Once the guidelines are put in place, we will recommend telecom companies to put up their towers at isolated places, far from vicinity of residential areas,” Kabi said. The upcoming special regulation would empower the BDA and the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to regulate the process of installation of telecom towers.
Presently, the BMC just provides no-objection certificates for setting up of towers whereas the BDA grants permission for construction of the towers on buildings.
The BMC charges Rs12,400 as fee to issue a no-objection certificate for each tower and Rs3,400 for renewal of the licences annually. The BMC has right to impose a fine of Rs5,000 if any company applies for licence after installing a telecom tower.
