This story is from December 5, 2019

Secunderabad: Cell tower triggers health scare, residents up in arms

The proposal to erect a mobile phone tower has angered a section of Army veterans living in AWHO colony near Diamond Point. They are opposing the move, saying the decision will have an enormous environmental and health impact on people living there.
Secunderabad: Cell tower triggers health scare, residents up in arms
The sector A colony is a plush green space and residents fear that many trees will be chopped for setting up cell tower
SECUNDERABAD: The proposal to erect a mobile phone tower has angered a section of Army veterans living in AWHO colony near Diamond Point. They are opposing the move, saying the decision will have an enormous environmental and health impact on people living there.
The sector A colony is a plush green space. Among the biggest concerns for residents is that many trees will be chopped for setting up the cell tower.
“Our colony was handed over to the owners in 1985.
Since then despite water shortage, many of the owners put up their best efforts to make the colony green. At present there are more than 1,000 trees in this 17-acre colony and a variety of birds,” said Major Jagjeet S Kalsi (retd). He said, “At least 100 to 150 square yards of land has to be cleared by chopping trees for the tower which is not even needed.”
Agreeing, Captain S K Mehta (retd), another resident, said, “There is no problem with the cell network in the area. We are worried that once the tower is in place the pollution from the generator and radiation from the tower will affect the entire ecosystem.” The tower is to be placed on a centrally located hillock. While agreeing that there is a signal issue, Lokesh Sharma, said: “The problem can be addressed by setting up boosters.” He added that the green belt and rocks would be destroyed as work to erect the tower gets underway.
The other concern was the health impact of setting up such a tower in a residential area. A homeowner, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the adverse health impacts of cell phone towers are well documented. “When almost every second person is suffering from cancer, why should we go for an additional cell phone tower?” the retired Army veteran asked.
Those opposing the move said that the only reason tower is coming up is the commercial benefits which would keep the maintenance charges low.
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