Team Herald
Margao: Following complaints filed against the Wi-Fi towers in Fatorda, the power supply to the same had been cut and the free wi-fi service was stopped. A Criminal Complaint has been filed against Officials of Reliance Jio infocom ltd, Mr. Vijai Sardessai, MLA, Fatorda, Arthur D’Silva, Chairperson, Margao Municipal Council, Y.B Tavde, Chief Officer of Margao Municipal Council, Concerned officials and Enginners of the Margao Municipal Council, Concerned officials of South Goa Planning and Development Authority for criminally conspiring, corruption, cheating and causing loss to the state exchequer to the tune of 4 to 5 lakhs rupees per month. The complaint has been filed with the Superintendent of Police Shekhar Prabhudessai and also the Police Inspector of Margao Town C.L. Patil by the United Goans Foundation President Ashish Kamat. The complainant have also said that they are ready to move the Margao JMFC is the police fail to register their complaint.
Housing societies fearing health impact had also given complaints to the MMC one month back and feared health hazard from the radiation. “One of the towers near Kadamba bus stand was powered by a office nearby and most of the towers were constructed without permissions” said a resident of Fatorda. It has been alleged that The construction and erection of the said Wi-Fi towers is illegal and is not in carried out by following the due procedure and that mandatory permissions from authorities concerned had not been taken.
The Wi-Fi facility inaugurated by Fatorda MLA Mr. Vijai Sardessai at several places in Fatorda constituency on the occasion of his birthday has been shut off power supply for last couple of days.
The towers near Holy Spirit Ground, Chowgule College Junction, Vidhyanagar open space, Open space near keny bab restaurant, Jogger’s park, Fatorda, BPS club area, Alfa Corner Junction, Fatorda Church square, KTC Bus stand and near Vijai Sardesai’s House are on the places which are within the jurisdiction of Margao Municipality.
“A rough calculation shows the loss caused to the state exchequer is to the tune of Rs. 60 lacs per year considering the average rentals for mobile towers being approximately Rs. 50,000/- per tower and for 10 towers” said Ashish.
The complainant claims that “no lease contract or lease agreement is signed with Reliance Jio and hence it has caused loss to the State exchequer, no licence or permission has been obtained from SGPDA Construction erection licence or permission has been obtained from any authority, environment Clearance Certificate is not obtained, environment Impact Assessment report is not taken from the Department of Science and Technology”.
