Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - HT Navi Mumbai Live
NMMC pulls down 26 mobile towers for not renewing licence
Out of the 423 mobile towers whose licence had expired, only 42 applied for renewal
After issuing repeated notices to 423 mobile towers that were listed under the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) for renewing their licences, the encroachment department has decided to act tough.
The drive, which started from March 20, demolished around 26 mobile towers in Vashi, Nerul, Turbhe and Airoli.
Officials from the town planning department said 423 mobile towers were listed as authorised as the licences had expired in September 2014. Of this, only 42 companies applied for renewing their licence and the renewal is in the process. The rest of the 381 mobile tower companies did not come forward even after issuing repeated notices.
“Permission is given to set up the tower for a year after which, it needs to be renewed. Only 42 companies have come forward for renewal and even though we had sent at least two notices each to the rest of them, none responded. We have forwarded the list to the encroachment department for taking action,” said an official from the town planning department.
The action against illegal mobile towers started in November 2013 after an RTI inquiry was initiated against several buildings in Vashi. The civic body had served a showcause notice to nine buildings in Vashi to submit documents on the legality of the mobile tower.
THE RULES
The operator should get a no-objection certificate from the society where the tower is to be erected. The operator has to get a certificate from a governmentapproved structural engineer and maintain a distance of 70m between two towers.
Kailash Gaikwad, assistant municipal commissioner of the encroachment department said action against all these illegal towers will be taken within a month.
We have directed all the ward officers in Zone I and Zone II to dismantle 381 mobile towers. The ward officers have complete authority to demolish the towers. KAILASH GAIKWAD, assistant municipal commissioner of the encroachment department