Unauthorised mobile towers in Mumbai pay a fine of just Rs170

The BMC may have decided to crack down on illegal mobile towers, but the same body has charged unauthorised towers only Rs170 per structure as penalty though there is a provision to fine Rs5,000.

The improvement committee discussed the issue. Manmohan Chonkar, Shiv Sena corporator, demanded to know about the same. “The civic body has taken action against 145 illegal towers and collected Rs24,708 in fines. Each tower was charged Rs170.4,” Chonkar alleged.

The administration replied that there are 1,628 illegal towers and the administration will act against them as soon as the civic body frames rules. “So far, the BMC has regularised 1,107 mobile phone towers — 344 towers in the city, 279 in the western suburbs and 484 in the eastern suburbs,” said Rajendra Vale, deputy civic commissioner.

“The state government has asked the civic administration to take action under Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act,” informed a civic official.

Other corporators also demanded that the framing of a policy to monitor and control the mushrooming of the mobile phone towers.

The fine for illegal mobile phone tower should be increased to Rs1,00,000.

Manoj Kotak, chairman of the improvement committee, said that the BMC should frame rules for installation of mobile phone towers and then we will approve it. “The BMC should consider an age criteria for buildings for installation of towers in the rules,” Kotak.