Times
of India: Agra: Wednesday, 30 December 2015.
An RTI reply
on illegal mobile phone towers in Agra has revealed that there are 176 illegal
mobile towers, many atop hospitals and educational institutions, in clear
violation of law.
An RTI reply
to a query filed by AAP unit of Agra said both private and public telecom
companies such as BSNL, Airtel, Aircel, Idea, Vodafone, Tata, Reliance, Essar
were found to have illegally installed mobile towers across the city.
Speaking to
TOI, AAP party district president for Agra, Kapil Vajpayee, said, "The
illegal mobile towers of telecom companies have caused a loss of nearly Rs 1.76
crore to the exchequer as before installing a tower, these companies have to
pay Rs 1 lakh to Agra Development Authority (ADA) as registration and
installation fee."
He said,
"According to the RTI reply by ADA, the urban authority has not fined or
penalized any telecom operator for illegally installing the towers."
Despite
repeated attempts, theADA officials could not be contacted for their statement.
According to
the RTI, there are 15 towers in Hariparvat I ward, 24 in Hariparvat II ward, 46
towers Hariparvat III, nine towers in Chaata, 13 towers in Lohamandi, 58 in
Tajganj and 11 in Kotwali.
The towers
were also found violating the UP Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973 section
-57, under which no mobile towers should be installed at hospitals and schools.
A BSNL mobile tower was said to be installed at the city's biggest private
hospital, Pujpanjali Hospital. Similarly many other towers were installed in
restricted areas.
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