Cellphone signals likely to blink; GMADA targets 98 illegal towers

Information procured under the RTI Act revealed that of the total 98 illegal towers,the maximum number of 12 were installed in Phase 3B2 here,followed by 10 in Phase V,nine each in Phases VII and XI,eight in Phase II,seven each in Phase X and Sector 70,six in Phase IX,five in Phase I,three each in Phase 3A and Industrial Area Phase III,two in Sector 71,and one each in Phase IV,Sectors 66,67,68,69 and Industrial Area Phase II.

Replying to an RTI query of this correspondent,GMADA SDO (Buildings) S K Bains disclosed that a policy had been framed to allow communication towers in commercial and industrial areas,under which various companies had applied for permission to install them. “While such applications are still under consideration,showcause notices have been issued to remove illegal towers on their own or else face action,” revealed Bains.

Action will be initiated after giving a personal hearing to all such violators whose towers are underway,he added. With GMADA aiming to pull down all illegal towers,residents will be freed of the radiation and other hazards posed by them but,at the same time,the signals of their cellular phones are likely to get affected. “We have been left in the lurch ever since a tower was installed in our vicinity,exposing us to electromagnetic radiation,noise and air pollution besides the threat of other casualties,” complained Radhika,a resident of Phase 3B2 here.

A Sector 70 resident feared,“There are already signal problems in basements and even ground floors at multi-storeyed buildings. Now if the present network gets affected,cellular services will be hit hard.”