Mumbai: Marine Drive resident fights for a mobile tower free terrace

Rajeev Mehta shows the base station that still exists on the building terrace

Marine Drive resident Rajeev Mehta is spearheading a battle to stop the installation of cellphone towers atop his building called Prabhat located on 'B' road, as he fears they are health hazards.

The six-storeyed building on Mumbai's sunset boulevard is set to instal mobile towers on its terrace once again, after a first set of towers was removed on April 12, after Rajeev proved that they were illegal with permissions not secured for the same.

Rajeev says, "Prabhat building's existing towers were removed after I found out through the Right To Information (RTI) Act that no permissions were taken to set up the towers. Though those were dismantled, now, three months later, yet another attempt is being made to reinstal cellphone towers through another operator. But I am determined to stop this too."

Rajeev has cited health problems because of the radiation coming from mobile tower antennae.

The base station on the terrace of Prabhat building. Pics/BIPIN KOKATE

Vote at the meeting
This young entrepreneur is backed by his father Dr B L Mehta (GP) when he says, "The mobile towers are installed directly above my bedroom. I live on the sixth floor, above which there is a terrace. I fear for my family's health. I do not want them there."

The society committee has been dissolved due to the dispute, following removal of towers, and the building is now run by a special administrator, Kailash Singh.

Rajeev says there was a 'Special General Meeting (SGM)' called by the administrator on June 25, calling for a 'vote' on reinstallation of cellphone towers. "There was an offer by Reliance Jio. In the meeting, 10 voted in favour of the towers, while nine went against," he adds.

Rajeev says, "I have moved the co-operative court, one which adjudicates disputes in housing society matters, against the 'illegal' resolution passed by the administrator in Prabhat for installation of Jio towers."

Rajeev says the SGM itself was illegal, citing several points, such as the fact that the SGM was called for "a matter of a non-emergency" and members had a notice of only four days, instead of five.

"They have not followed the notification of the government for installation of towers, which states that 70 per cent members have to attend (only 50 per cent attended this one) and 70 per cent have to vote in favour of the towers. Also, the meeting has to be video-recorded, which did not happen," he alleges.

Health over wealth
Rajeev says he does have support within the building, and from outside, namely Jai Hind College, which has written a letter (June 22, 2017) to the assistant engineer (building and factory department) 'A' ward, requesting a rejection of any proposal to 're-instal' mobile towers by any company on the terrace of Prabhat building.

Signed by administrative officer of the college, Ashok Kumar Mamgain, it expresses apprehension of towers earlier removed, as they were illegal, resurfacing. The second part of the letter reads, "It is requested that no permission for re-installation of mobile towers be given in view of health hazards and other complications due to radiation near educational institutions."

Mamgain refused to comment further on the matter.

Deepak Gupta, former chairman of Prabhat building, says, "We need to put health over wealth. Once we know the dangers of mobile towers, we need to reassess the need to have these atop the building. We should be wiser about the risks. In the end, is it worth our health?"

Well, what can I say?
The swish Marine Drive area has become a hotbed of controversy, with reference to cellphone towers. Recently, reports had surfaced in the media that two residents of Anand Niwas building are suffering from cancer, with one of the relatives concerned about radiation from mobile towers atop a building called Jyoti Sadan and Prabhat (before they were dismantled).

Meanwhile, Singh says, "if a majority of the members wants the cellphone towers, then they should come up. Now, though the matter is in the high court, we will see what happens. I cannot comment beyond that."

Jio representatives were not available for comment.