Coming soon, law for regulating mobile towers in Bihar

NEW RULE TO CHECK UNAUTHORISED TOWERS

June 15, 2011, Patna: Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi on Tuesday said the State government would soon frame Bihar Communications Towers and Related Structures’ Rule 2011 for regulating mobile towers in the urban areas.

“We will soon frame the rule for the purpose of regulation of old mobile towers which have been set up without prior sanction and new ones to be set up within the urban areas,” Mr. Modi told reporters here.

With no rule in force for controlling the old towers which were set up, Mr. Modi said, “We have decided to frame the rule to be soon placed before the state cabinet for approval.”

Mr. Modi said the new rule, if implemented, would help urban bodies earn Rs 50,000 per tower to be set up by mobile operators towards registration and payment of an additional Rs 15,000 per month for every tower.

The mobile companies would have to pay Rs 40,000 per tower towards registration in addition to Rs 10,000 per month for towers within the jurisdiction of the municipal board areas, Mr. Modi said.

In the urban panchayat area, the companies would have to cough up Rs 30,000 per tower towards registration in addition to Rs 8,000 per annum, he said, adding the amount would be increased by 25 per cent every five years and concession would be given to companies willing to pay the annual rent for five years in one go.

He said the State government would give top priority to companies willing to set up but there would be restriction on allowing construction of towers within a radius of 100 metres from schools, colleges or hospitals.

Mr. Modi said for ensuring safety of the building, the mobile companies would also be required to give a structural safety certificate from a recognised engineer.

A certificate was also required from these companies for running generators with full pollution control equipment.