Acting promptly on complaints of Malabar Hill residents, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ensured removal of three illegal mobile antennae put up by a leading mobile network service provider on the terrace of a popular club in the South Mumbai locality.
Acting promptly on complaints of Malabar Hill residents, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ensured removal of three illegal mobile antennae put up by a leading mobile network service provider on the terrace of a popular club in the South Mumbai locality.
Who had put up the antennae?
According to Malabar Hill residents, the three antennae were put up by Vodafone, who had apparently promised to install boosters atop the club but allegedly installed the antennae, which were camouflaged as lamps. The antennae were installed about three months ago.
However, residents soon discovered that the camouflaged 'lamps' were actually mobile antennae and not boosters as the service provider had initially claimed.
Who complained to the BMC?
Civic activist Prakash Munshi said, "Residents of Malabar Hill immediately wrote to the D ward authorities, highlighting the issue. The antennae perched atop the club were barely at
a distance of 20m from the neighbouring buildings. The ward acted promptly on our complaints and ensured removal of the antennae."
What did the BMC do?
According to officials from the D ward, a notice under section 55 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, was issued to the secretary of the Malabar Hill Club on November 7, 2014, who was asked to undo the installation of the antennae within 15 days of its receipt. The notice stated that the club authority will be liable for prosecution under the act if the club fails to comply. A copy of the notice is with dna, which states the towers were installed without the permission of the BMC.
When were the installations removed?
A letter from the D Ward to the residents confirmed that the ward officials have verified that the installation was removed last month.
Assistant municipal commissioner of the ward Devidas Kshirsagar confirmed that the antennae were removed and said, "We verified with our legal team to check if the antennae were authorised. Following due process, we informed the club authorities that the antennae were unauthorised and should be removed immediately."
While secretary of the club Nitin Shah couldn't be contacted, Lawrence Quadros, administrative officer of the club, told dna, "Why do you want this? We don't want to share any information with you. The antennae were installed and after nearby residents complained, they were removed."
Calls and messages to the Vodafone Mumbai nodal officer went unanswered.
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