Municipal corporations in the city have decided to crack down on illegal cell phone towers. The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has sent notices to the owners of around 60 towers in areas such as Mayur Vihar, Patparganj and Laxmi Nagar. A drive against cell phone towers near hospitals and schools will be launched by the end of this month. Residents of some buildings who have been complaining about the towers to the civic bodies are expected to get some relief.

“First, cell phone towers near schools and hospitals will be removed. Our officials will submit a list of illegal towers on Tuesday,” said Rajesh Gehlot, chairman of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation standing committee.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation has given similar orders. A senior official said a tower on a residential building at Indrapuri would be removed. The tower was set up by the building owner who had signed a contract with a cell phone service provider. Later on, he sold flats in the building separately to people who complained of vibration in the building because of the tower.

The drive may target as many as 250 towers in east Delhi. “All cell phone towers set up after 2010 will be removed after notices have been sent,” said a senior official.