MARGAO
The government has finally moved in to issue directions to the 18 village Panchayats in coastal Salcete and Mormugao talukas to issue NOCs to M/s Indus Towers for the erection of Roof Top Poles and Ground Based Monopole (High Mast) mobile towers in their respective areas ahead of the BRICS summit.
The directions conveyed through the Director of Panchayats, however, has had no effect on the ground as the Velim gram sabha on Sunday objected to the two towers proposed on the Baradi hillock. At Colva, the gram sabha has okayed NOCs for two towers, but has withheld the green signal in respect of three other applications for the towers.
Carmona village, which has been agitating for quite some time against the location of towers in residential areas, on Sunday resolved to hold an inspection of the location of two towers proposed by the cellular operator. The gram sabha had earlier accorded approval for three towers since they were away from the residential locality.
Though the Panchayat Director’s directive contains no deadline on the Panchayat bodies to issue the NOCs, official sources said the government is moving fast and is expected to overrule the objections raised by the gram sabhas this week.
The directions to the Panchayat bodies came after M/s Indus Towers approached the government with a plea that Vehicle based towers (Cell on wheels) are not feasible on a host of grounds. One, the operator contended that since the height of the vehicle is more than the overhead power cables, the movement of the vehicle will be a huge deterrent as these will have to be de-energised by requesting the electricity officials to remove the wires and again get them re-connected.
Secondly, the company pointed out that substantial amount of tree cutting is also involved to enable movement of the vehicle, adding that the requirement for diesel generator will result in a surge in the noise pollution in the area around the summit.
The requirement of a larger plot size, around 16x16 mts is cited another reason why the operator has preferred ground based and roof top mobile towers.
Sources said when Ms Indus Towers moved the note to the government, the submissions made by the government were considered due to the criticality of the BRICS summit and on grounds that any disruption during the event will have a negative fallout for the state which is recognised as an international tourist destination.
The government directions were conveyed to the village Panchayat of Benaulim, Carmona, Cavelossim, Colva, Orlim, Betalbatim, Varca, Navelim, Assolna, Velim, Majorda, Arossim, Velsao, Verna, Nagoa, Bogmalo, Chicalim and Sancoale.
These Panchayat bodies have been told to give the NOCs as per the applications submitted by the cellular operator to ensure there’s no disruption during the BRICS summit.
