Unsafe mobile towers to be removed

Bhopal, Aug 1 (UNI) The government today assured the Madhya Pradesh Assembly that unsafe mobile phone towers and hoardings would be removed across the state.

Admitting that there were 37 unauthorised mobile phone towers in the state capital, Urban Development Minister Jayant Malaiya said notices had already been issued to mobile phone operators for removing unauthorised towers, but few companies had obtained stay from courts. He said two such towers had been removed, while 185 towers were authorised.

As many as 1139 hoardings were permitted while 32 hoardings were removed on court directive to ensure smooth road traffic, Mr Malaiya said in reply to a call attention notice raised by Mr Uma Shankar Gupta and Sunil Nayak (both BJP) and Mr Arif Aqueel (Cong).

Mr Malaiya denied Mr Gupta's contention that about 2500 unauthorised hoardings had been installed in the state capital. He assured to consider the demand to extend financial help to the family of Rajkumar Khatwani, who died after a hoarding fell on him in Arera Colony.

The minister also admitted that few vehicles were damaged after a tower owned by the Idea cellular company collapsed during a thunderstorm in the state capital's M P Nagar locality in June this year. He said removal of unauthorised hoardings was a regular exercise.

Mr Gupta alleged that mobile towers and hoardings were being illegally set up in the city with the connivance of municipal officials with the patronage of senior officers and the Mayor.

Mr Malaiya said the cellular companies were asked to procure safety certificates from structural engineers. The Town and Country Planning department was asked to make a provision in the next Bhopal Development Plan to reserve a plot of 50x50 feet in each colony to erect hoardings and towers.

The Town and Country Planning department had also been asked to initiate disciplinary action against a Town Planner, who was on deputation to Bhopal Municipal Corporation earlier, in view of collapse of a mobile phone tower, he said.

UNI