The fee for obtaining a compulsory license for setting up a mobile tower in Bengaluru is Rs. 1 lakh and that in smaller towns is Rs. 35,000
The Karnataka state government has issued an order to make it compulsory for mobile towers to obtain licenses within three months. Dr G Parameshwara, Deputy Chief Minister, Karnataka informed about the instruction and implementation of the Karnataka Installation of Telecommunication Infrastructure Towers Regulations, 2015.
He said that telecom companies had set up towers in the absence of proper guidelines and the new order had been framed considering the public health. The Minister added that there had been complaints about the mobile towers affecting people’s health and although there was no scientific explanation, the state would take precautions.
New rule
The new rule states that mobile towers should be installed 50 metres away from any educational institution, hospital and religious place. The existing towers in this vicinity should be shifted within three months.
The state government has fixed a license of Rs. 1 lakh per tower in Bengaluru and Rs. 35,000 in smaller cities. The order also directs the officials to issue licenses to the applicants within 15 days of document submission. According to an estimate, there are at least 30,000 telecom towers, with 6,766 in Bengaluru alone.
Karnataka will be forming a committee comprising the deputy commissioner, Zilla Panchayat CEO, health officer, pollution controlling officer and other government-appointed members to monitor telecom tower related issues.
