No mobile tower in city is illegal, say cellular body

After the East Delhi Municipal Corporation last week said it was planning to seal ‘illegal’ cell phone towers which have come up without requisite permission, the Cellular Operator Association of India (COAI) said all towers in the city have the required permission.

After the East Delhi Municipal Corporation last week said it was planning to seal ‘illegal’ cell phone towers which have come up without requisite permission, the Cellular Operator Association of India (COAI) said all towers in the city have the required permission.

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“There is no such thing like an illegal cell phone tower. Towers in the city were installed depending on the guidelines that were in place during that time. Even the recent government guidelines state that no cell phone tower can be sealed without giving adequate notice.

However, the civic agency is flouting all such rules. We had written to the corporation on Saturday, informing them about the latest guidelines issued by the Department of Telecommunications for installation of cell phone towers,” said TK Dua, director-general of the association.

The association added there are no restrictions on installing mobile phone towers on school buildings or hospitals.

“The guidelines of the government states that towers are permitted for all locations irrespective of land usage,” he added.