TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The planning and district authorities on Wednesday razed down structures housing security room, DG set and a wall of a cellular mobile tower at Murida-Fatorda. The cellular mobile tower could not be brought down for want of a crane, sources said.
Action against the tower was taken after the appeal filed by the cellular company was dismissed by the Chief Town Planner on grounds that construction carried out was in violation to the prevailing regulations. Moreover, Chief Town Planner S T Puttaraju stated that the cellular company does not have the clearance from the Goa State Pollution Control Board, which is mandatory for operation of a mobile tower.
City-based resident Sanjeev Raiturkar, who was an intervener in the proceedings before the Chief Town Planner, had brought to the notice of the TCP Board that the plot in question was designated as “S1” settlement zone in the ODP of Margao, but maintained that the construction carried out was for commercial purpose.
He had further argued that the uses such as setting up of mobile phone transmission towers/stations were not permissible in S1 zone. After going through the arguments advanced by the company, intervener and the South Goa Planning and Development Authority, the CTP ruled that the cellular company could not produce substantial evidence regarding construction carried out.
