Installing telecom tower on roof becomes easier

Lucknow: The state government has amended building by-laws under which LDA has made installation of telecom towers easier in residential units. One can go to LDA and get the approval for it without seeking permission from their resident welfare associations (RWAs). Earlier, an individual had to take permission from neighbours before approaching LDA for a no objection certificate.
LDA said this was a tedious process and many telecom players found it irrelevant. They said this was a major roadblock in their network expansion and hence many went to the court for this. An official said, "The clause was seen as a major impediment in a network's growth because people frivolously put up complaints and none of them held relevance. To cut down on the confusion and lengthy procedure, the new set of laws allows one to seek permission only from LDA."
A company wishing to install a tower has to deposit permit fee of Rs 1 lakh and get the map approved from LDA. An official said, "Because of complicated set of laws, companies earlier preferred to bypass rules and installed towers without seeking approval from the authority. This led to mushrooming of unauthorized telecom towers everywhere. To put a check on this, government has simplified norms."
Residents were apprehensive that harmful emissions from these towers may affect their heath. But with companies coming up with claims that harmful radiation is just a myth and 4G network making its way, government thought to ease out the rules. "4G towers occupy lesser space than a 3G tower, so in any case these towers will not cause much problem," said an official.