DNA: Ahmedabad: Tuesday March 19, 2013.
Following frequent complaints by residents about illegal mobile towers, the estate department of the west zone of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) dismantled a mobile tower in the city on Monday.
The illegal tower was installed in Shatrunjay complex near Nagri hospital in Ellisbridge by mobile service provider Airtel.
A notice was issued to Shatrunjay complex by AMC. Elaborating on it, one of the officials of west zone requesting anonymity said, “We had served a notice to Shatrunjay Complex for the illegal tower one year back. We received their response a month later stating that the tower would be regularised within 30 days.” However, when it was not regularised even after a year, AMC dismantled it on Monday morning. In an explanation to why the regularisation was not done as promised, the building authorities cited internal problems between the former and current secretaries over allowing the mobile tower to operate.
The demolition was a victory of sorts for Right to Information (RTI) activists. “For three years, we have been complaining to AMC about illegal mobile towers in the city. Finally, the civic body is taking action against them,” said Rohit Shah, an RTI activist. Shah’s RTI queries led to the discovery of 1,400 locations with five-six mobile towers at each location. AMC has official records of only 800 such locations which are legally registered.
Explaining the procedures involved for getting an authorised mobile tower, the official said, “The building needs to apply at the zonal office of AMC with a proper plan/ sketch of the proposed tower. A structural stability certificate by an authorised structural engineer should be attached with the application. An installation fee is charged as well.”
AMC plans a similar demolition in Ambawadi. “We are already preparing for the next demolition in Ambawadi to be carried out this week,” added the official. AMC had demolished an illegal mobile tower in Sabarmati in 2012 as well.
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