Mobile towers come full circle

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For a mobile service provider,it was signal strength of an area that would bring in customers. This was addressed by installing antennae to guarantee connectivity and earn customer loyalty.

Landline providers were evaluating demand in newly emerging suburbs. They would then need to get permission to lay cables. The economics of the exercise was such that they would step in only after the emerging neighbourhood had a critical mass of residents. Typically,the wait could be anywhere between 3-5 years. The mobile phone addressed this void.

In their zeal at expanding coverage,very few companies obtained permission for installing towers from the concerned civic body. Even developers and landlords who permitted these towers to be installed on their terraces did not bother to get clearance from the authorities.

As the flat buyers were keen on having connectivity,we as brokers identified this as a new parameter and started marketing it, says B Potnis,a real estate agent in south Mumbai.

The brokers in the developing suburban patch had gone a step further. We use to draw the attention of the flat buyers to the fact that there is a mobile tower in that society or in the vicinity so that they are sure of connectivity. In case of an under-construction project,we also used to say that two cell phone towers were coming up in the proposed complex and thats the reason buying a flat here will be beneficial. says A Badiani,another broker from Mumbais western suburbs.

The office segment had the same story. In the small table space in congested lanes of south Mumbai or old Delhi,or in the cubicle spaces of air-conditioned premises in new commercial centres across all major cities,the buyers or tenants would first check for connectivity.

As a result,property in the vicinity of mobile towers started commanding a premium. There are cases where people have paid 3-5 per cent more for this specification a decade ago.

THRIVING MARKET

The telecom providers were ready to pay huge amounts initially,to get a foothold in areas that were a promising market. Cash-starved landlords and societies were more than happy to join hands as this was a source of additional revenue.

However,it led to corruption in many societies as the company would pay a small amount to the society officially and the office bearers would pocket a large chunk in cash and permit the installation. The annual rent would range from Rs 4-12 lakh depending on the location and the height of the building.

The need for connectivity on one hand and greed on the other,led to the installation of thousands of mobile towers and antennas in most of the major cities in India.

In Mumbai,a survey carried out in 2010 by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation showed that out of 3,700 towers installed,approximately 1,800 were illegal.

UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES

Today,mobile phone penetration has increased manifold and the increase in number of customers mandates increase in the number of towers to service effectively. Adding more towers would need more investment.

According to Prof. Girish Kumar of the Department of Electrical Engineering,IIT Bombay,telecom companies are increasing the antenna strength to get around this problem, instead of expanding the number of antennas,which implies increased radiation levels. Having a mobile tower within 50 metres is like being in a microwave oven for 24 hours,says Kumar.

Prof. Kumar studied the possible ill-effects of this radiation and submitted a report to the Central government in 2010. An inter-ministerial committee then recommended lowering the permissible radiation levels. This has not been implemented for a year.

The Central government has formed 34 Telecom Enforcement,Resource and Monitoring TERM cells,which are supposed to check radiation levels and also have the authority to close down the base station if found violating the rules.

It is believed that proximity to mobile towers may cause health disorders such as anxiety,itching,joint pain,headaches,sleeplessness,memory loss,fatigue,hearing and vision disorders etc. This impact would be more on children. Cancer is also a possibility in extreme cases.

Many are not aware of the issue and many more are not convinced that mobile towers can become a health hazard. The other difficulty is that such disorders cannot easily be attributed to mobile towers as their effects are not immediately visible.

Telecom companies have denied these allegations and claim that there is no conclusive evidence that mobile towers operating with the prescribed radiation strength causes health risks. The question that arises is,if these towers are deemed to be safe,then why have radiation guidelines been imposed?

A U-Turn

There is increased awareness of the three issues related to mobile phone towers: Firstly,the legal status of the tower,secondly,possible corruption in installation and thirdly,the alleged negative impact on health. Health being the prime factor,is now playing a pivotal role in taking a U-turn.

Many buyers now avoid properties near mobile towers or even the bouquet of antennas. Many have already complained to the society and to the local authorities and asked for the removal of the tower as many of them have suffered health disorders, says Shridhar Malwe,an estate agent from central Mumbai.

For example,hundreds of members of a society at Peddar Road in Mumbai have complained against the tower in their own buildings and demanded the removal of them. They have been joined by 1,000 parents of the students at the nearby school.

The rate of the flat facing the mobile tower or the antenna is lesser than the other flats in the same building now, says Potnis. Now,people want to be away from the towers as they are scared,if not aware. Even office buyers prefer to have the extension wires being laid down from the distant tower to their office than to go for the space near the tower.

Flats that face mobile towers have seen a reduction in the range of 5-10 per cent on the lump sum cost in some cases.

It has now come full circle. Residents who prized a mobile tower,are now willing to pay a premium to stay away from it.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Place green plants in the balcony or near the window facing the tower or antenna as it is said that green plants absorb radiation

One can complain to the TERM cell in their area or to the local civic authorities if the antenna is illegal

There are gadgets called enviro-strips that can be placed around the tower to reduce radiation. There is another variant available for deployment at home and on personal devices

In addition,there are radiation shields and curtains available for home use

anshumali.ruparelexpressindia.com