Mumbai: Plush society angrily knocks on BMC's door over 4G tower

Well-known personalities from a plush housing society at Lower Parel have strongly opposed the 4G mobile towers coming up on a public park adjoining their building.

Well-known personalities from a plush housing society at Lower Parel have strongly opposed the 4G mobile towers coming up on a public park adjoining their building.

The society members of Casa Grande, located off Senapati Bapat Marg, include singer Asha Bhosle and her family, senior executives of leading Korean and Japanese firms such as Samsung and Mitsui, diplomats from the United States consulate, a senior director of leading corporate firms among others.

A telecom firm has put up a mobile tower on Matoshree Ramabai Keshav Thackeray Udyan, one of the few surviving recreation gardens in the island city. Chairman of Casa Grande, Sajjid Mitha said, “We have reached out to the authorities concerned and local political leaders objecting about the tower, but no one seems to be concerned. It is a beautiful garden, but ever since the mobile tower has come up, local residents are worried. The tower is located very close to the play area too. We want it to be removed immediately.” The tower is more than 20-feet-high and faces Casa Grande. “The antennas are yet to be installed to make it operational, but ground work has already started,” said Mitha.

Senior civic officials said permissions have been granted to put up the tower through legal process. “The proposal and the policy were cleared by the general body headed by the mayor. We are carrying out the work legally. But the matter will be looked into to check violation of norms by the telecom firm,” said Keshav Ubale, assistant municipal commissioner, G south ward.