Mobile tower installation: NGT issues notice to DDA, SDMC

A residents welfare association today moved the National Green Tribunal against installation of mobile towers in south Delhi prompting the green panel to seek response from DDA on the issue.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notice to Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SMDC) and sought their reply by January 4.
The order came during hearing of a plea filed by D-block residents welfare association in Saket here which has moved the tribunal seeking a direction for removal of mobile towers installed in the area on health grounds as they emit electromagnetic radiation.

"Research has established that children are at greater risk due to their thinner skulls and rapid rate of growth. These emissions are liable to cause fatal diseases like cancer, change in DNA structure, brain tumour etc," the plea said seeking a direction to restrain Indus Towers from erecting a mobile tower at the site.
The petition said that DDA has awarded the contract to Indus Towers Limited to install mobile towers at various places in the capital and "one of these towers is earmarked to be erected in the morning walkers park described as NHP-D block, Saket, New Delhi."
"The site for erection of mobile tower is adjacent to the densely populated residential colony of Saket and is in close proximity of two senior secondary schools with enrollment strength of more than 3,000 students between the age 6 to 18 years," it said.

A batch of pleas on the issue that mobile phone towers were posing health hazards and "norms were flouted brazenly by all companies involved with installation of mobile towers" is sub-judice.
On September 9, the panel had asked the Centre to inform it whether the construction of these towers in residential areas would be injurious to humans or not.
The bench had also asked the Centre to submit remedies and steps that are required to be taken for preventing environment and health hazards resulting from such activity.