Civic body plans norms for mobile towers in residential buildings

A special council will be set up to look into cell tower radiation violations in the city

BMC is planning to introduce its own set of norms for mobile network companies. This is in addition to the regulations which have been formulated at the Centre for mobile towers in residential buildings. Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte on Monday said, "The Centre has formulated some technical norms for mobile network towers around the country. We are going to add our own norms for such towers set up in residential buildings in the city."

"If any tower has been set up illegally, without the consent of the housing society, we will take action against the companies, based on the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act and other laws," he added.

On Friday, the civic administration said a special council would be set up to look into cell tower radiation violations. "There are 3,600 towers in Mumbai, of which 1,800 have been found to be illegal. We have initiated action against 250 towers. However, some of these cases are pending in court, which has held us back from taking proper punitive action," said Kunte.

Municipal councillors have also demanded that a survey of all mobile towers in the city should be undertaken to see if they are complying with the Central government norms. "We will form a special committee to look into the matter and we will see if the policy needs to be changed. If it is found that the current policy poses health hazards, the special council will file a PIL in the Bombay High Court on behalf of the citizens," said Additional Municipal Commissioner Aseem Gupta at the civic general body meeting on Friday.

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