MP: Penalty on Airtel for violating tower rules

Acting swiftly against the irregularities in setting up towers in the city by telecom service provider Airtel, the Indore Municipal Corporation on Monday slapped a penalty of over Rs 17 lakh, seized their bank guarantees and stalled all its ongoing projects here.

Acting swiftly against the irregularities in setting up towers in the city by telecom service provider Airtel, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) on Monday slapped a penalty of over Rs 17 lakh, seized their bank guarantees and stalled all its ongoing projects here.

The Indore Municipal Corporation slapped a penalty of over Rs 17 lakh on Airtel.(File photo)

The corporation also pulled down a 50 feet tower from Shalimar township in Vijay Nagar area, seven towers from Sayaji Hotel and four towers from Industry House, affecting the telecom networks at various places.

Municipal commissioner Manish Singh in a notice to Bharti Airtel Broadband Services Limited on Monday said the company was in August informed about the irregularities in following rules in setting up towers and laying underground cables in the city.

However, company officials told HT they did not receive any communication regarding the penalties, and the tower pulled down in Shalimar township was installed by their vendor company.

In an official statement, the company also regretted about inconvenience to their customers.

Mayor Malini Gaud, on Sunday, pulled up the officials and the company for violation in norms, which led to a major damage in Narmada water feeder line in Bhawar Kuan area, rendering many colonies in southern and Eastern parts of the city devoid of water supply for more than a day.