Secunderabad: Residents move court against cell tower

SECUNDERABAD: Residents of Ambedkar Nagar in Sainikpuri filed a public interest litigation (PIL) earlier this month seeking removal of a cell phone tower that has been erected atop a four-storey residential building in the locality. They claim that the tower poses a threat to the health of those living in the vicinity.
The petitioners, largely residents of street number three and four, have stated that the cell phone tower has been illegally erected in the locality.They said that despite submitting multiple representations to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Malkajgiri tahsildar and Neredmet police station, the officials concerned have turned a blind eye to the issue.

“Though the officials are duty bound to check the illegal actions, the officials failed to do justice even after representations were made to the authorities concerned as such helpless to the situation warranted to approach this Honble Court of Justice (sic),” read the petition filed by Palle Ramchander.
As per building norms, no cell phone tower is allowed in parks, playgrounds, and full tank levels (FTL) of water bodies. Apart from this, cell towers cannot be erected within 100 meters of schools, hospitals, heritage and religious buildings and boundary of rivers outside the corporation, municipality and nagar panchayats.
Residents argue that there are schools, temples, masjids within the 100-meter radius of the cell phone tower, emissions of which may harm the residents. “The Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that cell phone towers have adverse effects on an individual’s health. Despite this, the cell phone tower is erected in violation of the existing law,” said Srinivas Mekala, advocate of the petitioners.
Following this, Malkajgiri court on December 24 summoned the respondents which includes GHMC deputy commissioner of Malkajgiri circle, Malkajgiri tahsildar, Rachakonda commissioner of police, Neredmet station house officer, among others for amicable settlement through conciliation before the Lok Adalat.
All the respondents in the matter were asked to appear before the mandal legal services committee, Malkajgiri, on January 31, 2020 for settlement.