Cell Towers Banned from Karachi
There has been a serious shortage of idiotic behaviour from official circles recently. Dr.Sagheer Ahmed bravely steps up to supply a tankful of idiocy and end this shortage.

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Companies stand defiant against Sindh govt



Cellular service providers say it is impossible to move towers outside the city; Sindh govt gives companies 30 days to comply.

By Imran Ayub

Karachi

Cellular companies have decided not to pay heed to the Sindh government’s directive to move their towers from residential areas, on the grounds that they are obligated to follow the policy designed by the telecom watchdog and are not accountable to provincial authorities.

Senior officials of all six cellular companies pleaded ignorance about the provincial government’s campaign, saying that they always move on the directives of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which has not approached any one of them yet.

“We have 317 towers within Karachi, which are likely to increase to 400 by June,” said an official at one of the companies. “We are not going to stop as there is no such directive from the PTA and we are not responsible to act on the campaign of any other organisation or authority.”

An official of another company said the PTA was the only organisation that could issue directives to the cellular companies, and, therefore, the Sindh government should approach the regional office of the authority to make its campaign effective.

“Even if the PTA agrees with the Sindh government, the shifting of cellular base station antennas (towers) outside the city is next to impossible,” he added.

The environment and alternative energy ministry of Sindh earlier this month asked the cellular companies to shift their base station antennas or mobile phone towers outside the residential areas. This call was made showing concern over radiation-related hazards associated with the cellular infrastructure, which are harmful for human life and health.

However, after more than a week has transpired since the call, there had been no such move from a single cellular company, which, it seems, is not taking the Sindh government’s concern seriously. On the other hand, the telecom watchdog is also not aware of the provincial orders.

“Normally, we are approached on any complaint against any telecom company,” said spokesman for the PTA when contacted in Islamabad. “But the Sindh government has not yet lodged a complaint or sought any cooperation from us.”

He said the PTA had received policy guidelines to check mobile tower hazards in the urban residential areas, which were being studied thoroughly before proper implementation.

“The PTA only implements the policy ñ its design and framing is done by the federal ministry,” he added. “We are bound to follow the policy guidelines issued by the federal ministry of IT and telecom, but are not aware of any role of the Sindh government on the subject.”

The city houses more than more than 1,700 cellular base station antennas mainly in the residential areas installed by all six cellular companies, which the Sindh government believes poses a serious threat to public health.

The number of mobile phone users crossed the 50 million mark in February 2007, with Karachi accounting for more than 50 per cent of the total cellular subscriber base across the country.

Four out of six cellular companies ñ Mobilink, Ufone, Al Warid and Telenor (listed in descending order of user base size) ñ operate a majority of their cellular base station antennas in Karachi, which is where a majority of their customers are.

However, all six companies seem to be standing in defiance of the provincial government, which usually waits for a month before taking any action.

“We have decided to wait for the next 30 days,” said Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Sindh Environment and Alternative Energy Minister. “We have approached the cellular companies directly to fix the issue but if they fail to do so, we would definitely take legal action.”

“It is mandatory to shift these towers, which are harmful for human life and health, from thickly populated areas.”

He said the government was more concerned about public health and safety but, at the same time, it offered all due support to business organisations. The cellular companies, the minister said, should realise the intention and spirit of the government as the radiation from cellular base station antennas was hazardous for human health.

“We only want protection measures from the cellular companies while installing such stations,” said Dr Ahmed. “Recognised research institutes, world wide, have established that the presence of such stations in residential areas is harmful for human health and no one can deny such fact.”

Labels: gorement, GSM, idiots, Wireless

- posted @ Saturday, April 14, 2007