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Civic bodies violate norms in erection of cell towers

320 towers working without NOC in Nellore district.

Nellore: Even as the residents are opposing erection of mobile phone towers in their neighbourhood expressing concern about the harmful health effects of electromagnetic radiations, the towers are being installed everywhere with mere permission from civic bodies and Panchayats. The companies concerned are also ignoring to obtain the mandatory no objection certificate from the Andhra Pradesh State Disasters Response and Fire Services Department should be submitted wherever required as per guidelines issued through GO No 380 by the Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department in 2013.

More than 320 cell phone towers have been functioning in Nellore district without No Objection Certificate allegedly because the civic bodies and Gram Panchayats granting permissions without insisting on the essential certificates from AP Disaster Response & Fire Service Department though they are aware about the rules and threat to the people living close to the towers in the district prone for cyclones.

District Fire Officer R. Gnana Sundaram said that companies installing mobile towers are not obtaining the NOC from them because the sanctioning authorities are not insisting the same. He said that they too not received any guidelines are communication about the GO and moreover they don’t have the mechanism to go pursue with the companies. He alleged that builders of high rise buildings also overlooking the obligatory NOC from fire department because of the laxity of civic bodies.

He added that industries and revenue departments never allow any organisations to function without valid license from fire department unlike civic bodies and Panchyats. When contacted, Nellore civic body officials said that they don’t have data on cell towers in the city since permissions are being given at Hyderabad level by Municipal Administration and Urban Development wing.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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