Residents oppose mobile tower in locality

HUBBALLI: The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation has incurred the wrath of residents of Indraprastha Nagar and surrounding areas for giving permission to a private mobile company to install a mobile tower in the middle of a residential area.
The corporation did not heed to the plea of residents who requested authorities not to give permission to a mobile company to install its tower.This has left hundreds of families very worried.
Residents fear health problems due to radiation from the mobile tower, and have been running from pillar to post to get the tower removed. Sujata Navalli, a homemaker from Indraprastha Nagar, said, "We have been protesting against the tower installation but the corporation hasn't listened to us. We also held a protest on Wednesday, but no officer from the corporation even listened to us. When we're out of station, the private mobile company staff come here and complete the installation work."
She added, "Today, we didn't allow them to complete the cable work and they left the place. How long can we protest?"
Sunanda Naik, another resident of the area, said, "The letter issued by the directorate of municipal administration (dated January 23, 2013) clearly mentioned that radiation produced by mobile towers causes harm to birds, the environment and has an adverse impact on the health of people living around the structures. According to its guidelines, towers should not be installed near schools and hospitals, should be far from buildings, and should not be installed if there is opposition from residents."
Throwing these norms to the wind, the corporation gave permission to install the tower. "We started opposing the tower installation in December, 2014 and we submitted several memoranda to the deputy commissioner, HDMC commissioner, police commissioner and appealed to them not to give permission to install the tower. But, no action has been taken. Instead, the corporation gave its permission," she added.
"The installation is almost complete and the cable network is yet to be done. No one is bothered about our plight. There is a primary school and a nursery within a 100-metre radius of the tower and it'll harm the people," said businessman Vijay Suryavanshi, adding, "We'll intensify our protest the near future if the authorities don't take action immediately."
Prakash Kyarakatti, area corporator, said, "The residents explained their problem to me. I'm already in talks with the zonal officer concerned to understand the situation and will ensure the tower is shifted to some other place."