Cell towers in city found to be unstable

Hyderabad, July 3: The structural engineers have reported to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) that they have found 21 cases of structural instability, either with the cellphone tower or the building and recommended that action be initiated to fortify them.

Consequently, the corporation has issued notices on the cellular companies and the owners of the buildings as well.

Though there are over 4,000 cellphone towers in the city, structural engineers have inspected only 100-odd buildings and towers in the the last six months.

The committee was appointed by the GHMC following directions from the High Court to verify the structural stability of towers and buildings after a woman from Kapra municipal area had moved the court on the issue. The service providers were asked to bear Rs 25,000 for testing and verification of structural fitness by the experts.

The committee is also reported to have informed the civic authorities that they were not able to cover all the towers due to lack of cooperation from the owners or inhabitants of the buildings on which towers have been erected, besides indifferent attitude of the service providers.

However, complaints are on the rise that these towers are hazardous to health.

Meanwhile, the service providers pay Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 rental per month for each tower to the owners.