Mobile users likely to face connectivity problems
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PORVORIM: Mobile phone users in and around Calvim-Aldona could face problems in connectivity and network, with the Aldona panchayat deciding to seal and demolish a mobile tower in the village due to pending bills and failure to comply with guidelines.
In a letter to the company servicing the mobile phone tower on July 24, Acting Aldona Sarpanch Charudutta Panjikar stated that a decision to seal and demolish a mobile tower was taken at a panchayat meeting on July 15.
“The panchayat body has decided to seal and demolish the tower for non-payment of fees amounting to Rs 70,000 for the years 2011-13 and also for non-compliance of rules/guidelines framed as per the memorandum dated 28/5/2012, issued by the deputy director of panchayat,” stated the panchayat letter.
Directing the company to “stop further activities at the site”, the panchayat has instructed the company to “comply according to the guidelines within a period of 30 days, failing which the panchayat will initiate further action.”
When contacted, Panjikar said the company erecting mobile tower at Calvim had not obtained any prior approval from the Town and Country Planning department.
“Legally speaking, the tower was erected illegally and despite this, the previous panchayat gave a no-objection certificate to the company to erect the mobile tower. The fees agreed to be paid to the panchayat was Rs 35,000 per year,” Panjiker told Herald.
“The company paid fees of Rs 35,000 for 2010-11 as agreed, but did not pay the fees for the next two consecutive years. Hence, the panchayat issued a letter to the company to pay the fees amounting to Rs 70,000 and to complete necessary formalities, failing which the panchayat will seal and demolish the tower,” informed Panjikar.
