MC goes strict on installation of mobile phone towers

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 22

The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has issued strict guidelines regarding installation of communication towers in the city with a provision of imposing a heavy penalty on violators.

The new guidelines, however, are subjected to revision after a specific time keeping in view the international standards and technology. The telecom operators, who have erected cell tower without permission, have been asked to apply to the JMC for regularisation within 30 days, failing which a penalty of Rs 50,000 per tower will be imposed, besides the tower will be removed.

The civic body has made it mandatory that any electromagnetic field (EMF) or radiations-related complaints would be referred to the Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cells of the Department of Telecommunication, Government of India.

Under the new guidelines, the operator would now have to produce the approval document in favour of the operator concerned or infrastructure provider by the Central Government to carry out its operations besides a copy of the Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocation (SACFA) clearance, revenue documents where the tower is to be installed, site and location plan and drawing of tower with complete details, including the specifications of foundations, height of the tower along with its elevation and other design parameters.

“In case the tower is in the vicinity or adjoining high or low-tension line then its distance from the same shall be clearly indicated in the drawing and in case a high-tension line is nearby the tower site, then an NOC from the Power Development Department needs to be attached with all documents,” the guidelines read.

Apart from this, an NOC from the Airport Authority of India, if the proposed tower site falls in the funnel zone of the Jammu airport, is required.

The new guidelines have also kept in mind the hazards to the health of residents of the nearby areas where the towers will be installed. “An undertaking that the erection of the proposed tower does not cause any adverse effect on the health of the residents of the nearby areas and that the applicant shall take special precautions for fire safety and lightening and he shall be solely responsible for paying all kinds of compensation and damages and would be responsible for any civil or criminal case arising there from has to be given,” the guidelines read, adding “In case the mobile tower is proposed to be installed in the residential area or in vicinity thereof, the NOC from the owners of bordering or next-door buildings is required”.

The civic body would charge Rs 1 lakh as installation fee and Rs 20,000 per tower per annum from the operator, with a provision of nearly 25 per cent increase in installation and renewal fee after every five years of issuance of these guidelines.

“An additional amount at the rate of 60 per cent shall be paid by the principal owner for every additional service provider who shares the same tower,” the document reads, adding “the municipal and other government buildings, except schools, hospitals and dispensaries, will be in the order of priority for the selection of site”.

To curtail multiplicity of towers as well as to optimise the use of the existing ones, the tower would be shared by at least three mobile operators.