Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 29: Making mockery of the directions issued by the state government to take action against telecom companies and dismantle illegally installed mobile towers in the city, telecom companies continue to haunt the residents. Administration continues to turn blind eye towards their operations. As per Doctor, the mobile phone towers crowding the city's skyline are making the air toxic; these radiations are harmful for people living in a 300 meter radius of the towers.
Pregnant women and children are in absolute threat from cell phone towers than the normal population. It is very unfortunate to see huge cell towers thronging the rooftops in and around the residential apartments, Hospitals, schools and educational institutions and this has become more or less a common sight in cities across India and elsewhere. The younger the child, the deeper is the penetration of electromagnetic radiation as children's skulls are thinner. Children, adolescents and pregnant women could be at the maximum risk. Radiation from mobile towers poses grave health risks including memory loss, lack of concentration and digestive disturbances.
Keeping their blind eye on the aforesaid, with a greedy instinct most of the educational institutions in order to accelerate their source of income have installed the mobile towers of the Different mobile service provider companies on rooftops, that too in the prime locations in Jammu, courtesy JMC's mute watch.
Though some cosmetic measures like lowering the height of few towers near by the airport was done, but no further action have been taken against the infrastructure installed on the roof tops of several commercial and residential buildings at various Localities in and around Jammu.
Concerned over the illegal installation by the seven cellular companies operating in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Government has asked the respective district administrations last year to form committees to look into the complaints of violation of norms. Committees were headed by the Deputy Commissioners, to conduct survey and submit a detailed report to see that cell towers don't passes security hazard to the people living close by.
Violating the norms at various places, companies have raised towers on the rooftops of residential houses, which is clear threat to the surrounding areas in case of any natural calamity like earthquake or storm. "Measures have only remained on papers and just few inspections have been conducted. At places, companies have got NOC for the infrastructure deemed dangerous for the public"' said an Official source.
"Many people in the past had filed complaints which include fear of towers close to the residential areas, installed on the old and tall buildings with fear that in case of storms or earthquake they will fall down on surrounding buildings" he added. Deputy Commissioners of Jammu, Samba, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Reasi and Udhampur were asked take measures to deal with the menace. But owing to the lazy legs attitude by authorities, in most of the rural areas, towers have been installed on the farm land, keeping rules on edge. Officials said that most of the complaints filed by the people include fear of towers close to the residential areas, installed on the old and tall buildings with fear that in case of storm or earthquake they will fall down on surrounding buildings. At present, there are around 50 lakh cell users in the state and the service was started in 2003 when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's government took over reins of the government.
Guidelines for the Installation of Mobile towers
1. As per the guidelines framed in 2006, rules and regulations have been framed for installing a tower. No tower would be installed within 100 meter radius of hospitals and educational institutes. But this are not followed as many towers are seen without taking care of the guidelines. With regard to the location of towers, cellular operators shall avoid residential areas for erection of the same.
2. First preference shall be given to the location of tower in the Forest areas. While second preference shall be given to the location of tower in the open or public areas away from residential locations.
3. Where it is not possible to avoid the location of the tower in residential area, the same shall be located in open space or park, with prior consent of owners of adjoining residential houses.
4. Erection of tower shall not be allowed within a radius of 100 meter from residential building, school and hospital. |
