HC pulls up UT over mobile towers deadline

However,the administration had later extended the deadline to June 1. This was questioned by the High Court on Tuesday during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking removal of mobile towers from residential areas.

Meanwhile,Bharti Airtel Limited on Tuesday moved the High Court seeking modification of the High Court orders whereby it had ordered removal of mobile towers from residential areas.

The company submitted that as per the Central government’s notification,the deadline to implement the same is September this year. In its application,the company has stated that “UT Administration and municipal authorities are not expert bodies for assessment of EMF norms laid down by the Department of Telecommunications and taking action for non-compliance thereof. The assessment of emission norms is a highly technical matter,especially when there are multiple operators present at a site. In such a scenario,non-compliance of emission norms by one operator may lead to demolition of entire site when other operators are in compliance of the norms. Demolition of a site as a whole even presuming non-compliance by one of the mobile operators would lead to irreparable and irreversible loss and damage of very large amount to the infrastructure providers who have nothing to do with the compliance of norms”.

The HC directed the Central government to clarify its guidelines for Punjab,Haryana and Chandigarh by May 30. Also,the trio have been directed to submit their action taken reports by May 30.

20 unauthorised security tents removed: MC

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government on Tuesday informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that out of the 23 unauthorised security tents pitched by VVIPs outside their residences in Mohali,20 had been removed by the authorities. This was submitted by the Mohali Municipal Corporation during the resumed hearing of a PIL seeking removal of unauthorised security tents pitched outside the residences of VVIPs in Mohali.