PORVORIM
The controversial installation of a mobile tower in Corjuem-Aldona has dominated the discussions in the last two successive Gram Sabhas convened by the Aldona panchayat, as a growing number of residents have been at loggerheads with their panchayat.
While the residents have been insisting on the demolition of the 35-metre tall ground base high mast monopole tower on grounds that it has been illegally installed, the panchayat has insisted that state and central authorities have granted necessary permission to the tower.
The row over the mobile tower began when D’Mello Telepower Pvt Ltd had written to the Aldona Panchayat on August 24, 2013, requesting permission to erect a ground base mobile tower. After the verifying the documents, the panchayat issued a permanent NOC/license to construct/erect and operate tenant base transmission station monopole tower at Corjuem on November 19, 2013.
On learning about the mobile tower, a group of residents wrote to the panchayat, expressing their objections to the tower.
In their letter, the aggrieved residents claimed that the issue of granting permission to the company to erect a mobile tower had not been discussed in the gram sabha.
“Though a permanent NOC was issued by the panchayat to the company on November 19, 2013, the approval to the mobile tower was given by the panchayat in its meeting called on January 15, 2014,” states the letter.
“Further, the tower has been erected on orchard land and no Sanad has been obtained from the deputy collector. The company did not submit No-Objection certificates from the Public Works Department, Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department, Goa Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and Health department along with the applications, which goes to prove that the tower has been erected illegally in gross violation of the rules in force,” stated the letter.
When contacted, Aldona Deputy Sarpanch Charuudatt Panjikar said the company had obtained permission from the Department of Telecommunication & IT, New Delhi, and Indian Institute of Technology has approved the design of the tower.
“The TCP department in its letter dated March 18, 2014, assessed the tax as Rs 15,000 as per the provisions of the Act and advised the company to deposit the amount,” informed Panjiker.
“The office of the Senior Town Planner has also issued technical clearance in its letter dated March 20, 2014, to carry out regularization of multi-tenant 35 metre height ground base high mast monopole tower,” he said.
Panjikar further informed that the GPCB had confirmed to the panchayat in a letter on November 28, 2013, that consent of their office was not required as per the Air Act and Water Act.
“While recently speaking to media persons, GSPCB Chairman Jose Manual Noronha recently mentioned that there was no conclusive evidence that radiation from a mobile tower cause health concerns. The mobile tower is close to a Hindu crematorium and there are fields in the area. There are no houses in the vicinity,” he said.
Dispelling concerns about the mobile tower’s proximity to a school in Corjuem, Panjikar added: “The school is about 500 metres away from the tower. The company has obtained all necessary legal permissions from government authorities concerned and hence, the panchayat granted permission to regularize the tower,” said Panjikar.
“The Department of Telecommunication has issued advisory guidelines to the State government to issue clearance to install mobile towers effective from August 1, 2013.”
“The advisory states ‘Telecom sectors have been given infrastructure status by Government of India vide gazette notification no 81 dated 28/03/2012. All benefits as applicable to infrastructure industry should be extended. Electricity connection may be provided to BTS on priority’,” said Panjikar.
