Saving ‘heritage, aesthetics’: No to cellular tower in Central Vista
In addition, according to the policy, when applying for permission to build a tower, operators must now submit an undertaking ensuring that the tower's installation has no negative impact on the health of people in the surrounding area.
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Towers should be not be visible from the main entrance or road, says NDMC. Archive
No cellular towers will be allowed to come up in the vicinity of the Central Vista to ensure that they don’t “disturb the heritage and aesthetic aspect of the area,” the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has said in a notice.
In a public notice issued Thursday, the NDMC stated no cellular towers could be located in its vicinity, as per the council’s new policy, and that a committee would take a call on such towers, if necessary, on the basis of an examination of each such instance.
In the event a tower was technically required, a committee comprising the Chairperson of the NDMC, Department of Telecom and the Ministry of Home Affairs will determine the need for tower installation on a case-by-case basis, the policy stated.
“Installations of towers/antennae, either ground-based or on the rooftop, shall not be permitted within the Central Vista,” the new NDMC policy stated, adding that “towers should be located on the rear end of the plot and should not be visible from the main entrance or road” to ensure the aesthetics of the area.
The corporation also sought to lay stress on avoiding more towers and optimising the use of existing ones. For the purpose, each existing tower will need to accommodate at least three operators.
Installation of towers near NDMC schools, hospitals, and dispensaries is also prohibited, and permissions, according to the policy, would also be granted on a case-by-case basis, as in the Central Vista area.
In addition, according to the policy, when applying for permission to build a tower, operators must now submit an undertaking ensuring that the tower’s installation has no negative impact on the health of people in the surrounding area.
The one-time permission fee, which is payable every five years, has also been raised from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh; on the other hand, operators who fail to renew permissions by the due date will have to pay a penalty of Rs 10,000 per month. Furthermore, the new policy prohibits the use of diesel generators to power the antenna and COWs (cellular on wheels). “There shall be no regularisation in the case of COW. No unauthorised COW shall be permitted in the NDMC area,” the new policy stated.
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