The Hindu    19.02.2015  

BBMP to stop installation of new telecom towers

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to stop installation of new telecom towers till the State government comes up with guidelines for their regulation. The decision was taken in a review meeting chaired by district in-charge Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday.

However, it is to be seen as to how successful BBMP would be in its endeavour as its earlier attempts to regulate telecom towers in the city were a failure. An attempt was made in 2011 to levy tax of Rs. 12,000 on each telecom tower. High Court struck down the move saying that law did not have such a provision.

Presently, telecom companies erecting towers do not seek permission from BBMP. BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayana said that the Karnataka Municipality Act, 1964 under which BBMP is governed is yet to factor in the new development of telecom towers and thus they had no authority to control them.

At the moment, telecom companies seek an approval from the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) for erecting towers. Though a government order directs telecom companies to seek a no-objection from the local body, it is being followed only in the breach. The issue was recently raised in the Assembly and Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra said the government would come up with guidelines. BBMP has now decided to stop any new towers from being erected till the guidelines are notified.