Team Herald
PANJIM: Tension prevailed at Dona Paula on Monday when the local residents gathered and objected to the work of setting up of a mobile tower in the premises of the Government Primary and High School located at the Dona Paula jetty road stretch.
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Employees of the ‘Indus Towers’ firm arrived in the school Monday morning and tried to begin the work to erect the mobile tower under police protection. However, residents along with the Corporation of the City of Panaji Councillor Nelson Cabral prevented them from carrying out the work in the school ground.
The residents cited several health reasons and also claimed that the radiation from the tower will lead to health hazards in the vicinity. They also pointed out that there isn’t enough space for school students to play.
Representatives of Indus Towers told residents that they are in possession of required permission to set up the mobile tower from the concerned government departments including the Public Works Department and asked them to approach the government and get a stay order.
Under pressure from the public, representatives of Indus Towers returned back without carrying out any work.
Nelson Cabral said that it was for the third time that they have prevented the particular company from carrying out work of erecting a mobile tower in school premises.
“I have written to the PWD and the local MLA raising objections to the erection of a mobile tower in school but till date I have not received any response from them. We have asked Indus Towers to display a board at the site giving details of their project and based on that we residents can serve a legal notice to them and others concerned,” Cabral said.
Melwyn Da Silva, resident of the area claimed that the Parent Teacher Association of the school have already written to the Education Department objecting to the setting up of the mobile tower in the school premises.
