Ulwe residents protest mobile towers on road medians, cite safety and health risks

NAVI MUMBAI: Alert residents and citizen groups in Ulwe are up in arms against the ongoing work to install mobile towers on road medians. They have launched protests, alleging that the structures pose serious risks to public safety, disrupt traffic movement, and may be health hazards due to radiofrequency radiation exposure.

Civil rights activist BN Kumar has appealed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Raigad district collector to intervene immediately.

Santosh Kate, president of the NCP (late Ajit Pawar faction), Ulwe node, said, “The road medians in Ulwe have been dug up at nearly 20 locations for the installation of mobile towers. Similar installations are reportedly planned across Dronagiri, Karanjade, Uran and Targhar in Uran taluka, and Pushpak Nagar in Panvel taluka. The work was briefly halted after complaints were lodged with several officials, including the CIDCO managing director and vice-chairman Vijay Singhal and Navi Mumbai transport authorities, but the digging work has now resumed. If the mobile tower installation work continues without proper safety precautions, citizens’ groups will intensify the agitation. The CIDCO authorities have been asked to suspend the ongoing work until all health, environmental and traffic safety clearances are independently reviewed and made public.”

Activist BN Kumar said, “Mobile towers may be necessary for communication services, but the manner in which these structures are being erected shows little concern for public safety, considering the incident of a 100-foot-tall mobile tower installed on a road median in South Delhi’s Safdarjung Enclave that collapsed during the early hours on June 15 last year due to strong winds and heavy rainfall. Fortunately, there were no casualties as there were no passers-by or motorists on the road around 4 am.”

Kumar added, “Residents have also demanded an independent scientific study on the possible long-term health implications of radiation exposure from telecom towers located close to residential neighbourhoods, schools and busy public roads. Citizens said official data, radiation audits and compliance certificates should be placed in the public domain to build trust.”

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