Residents oppose installation of mobile tower at Ishar Nagar

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 10

Residents, including women, staged a protest against installation of mobile tower on a building at Ishar Nagar on the Gill road today. To control the situation, police force was deployed at the site. Residents alleged that the police also asked them to stay away from the installation work otherwise action would be taken against them.

Residents said they had complained to the Deputy Commissioner, Punjab Pollution Control Board and the Municipal Corporation against installation of the tower. They blamed the authorities concerned for not taking appropriate steps to stop installation of the tower.

“As no action was taken to stop installation of the tower so we were forced to protest,” residents added.

“Ours is a residential area. We don’t want any tower to be installed here. It is responsibility of the government to direct the civic body not to grant permission to any firm to install a mobile tower in the residential area. We are already suffering due to industry in residential areas,” said a group of residents.

“We are afraid of harmful effects on health due to radiation from the mobile tower. That’s why we are opposing its installation. Instead of hearing our voice, the police is supporting the mobile company and owner of the house where tower is to be installed,” they said.

“The base for the installation of tower was constructed under supervision of the police. When we were staging protest, the police threatened us to stay away from the site. The government should direct the authorities concerned to get installation of tower stopped,” said a resident.

The SHO, Dehlon Police Station, Dharmbir Singh, said the telecom company had obtained the NOC for installation of the tower. The police force was deployed to control situation as residents were opposing installation of the mobile tower, he added.