Heavy fines slapped on 1,200 illegal mobile towers in South Delhi
Nearly 1,200 illegally installed mobile towers have caught the attention of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) in its jurisdiction, on Friday.
According to SDMC officials, the civic body has slapped heavy fines against such illegal installations.
SDMC officials said that the number of illegal mobile towers was ascertained during an ongoing survey to identify such installations after many complaints from residents regarding burgeoning number of mobile towers even in inner colonies.
SDMC Mayor Mukesh Suryan said that no illegal mobile tower will be spared and huge fines will be levied against any such installation which is done without the municipality’s approval.
In our ongoing survey so far we have identified 1,190 illegal mobile towers. These towers were set up without seeking any permission from the SDMC. We will impose huge penalties against them. We have already slapped fines against 390 illegal towers and will slap fines on other 800 such installations, said Suryan.
The mayor said that these fines are issued not only against the telecom company or the contractor but also against the owner of the property. The penalty amount will be recovered in retrospective manner from violators.
Civic officials said that it is mandatory to seek permission from the civic body before installing mobile towers in any area.
The issue of illegal mobile towers was brought to notice a few months back by councillors as well as the general public so a special House meeting was convened in August first week to address issues related with mobile towers.
In the House meeting, the mayor had directed civic officials to start a survey to identify mobile towers running illegally in SDMC areas.