Cellular towers installation in residential areas stopped

LAHORE - Justice Syed Asghar Haider of the Lahore High Court has observed that the cellular companies should not be allowed to erect towers in residential areas.
The judge made observation while disposing of a petition by Pakistan Mobile Telecommunications Limited against sealing of their two towers by the District Officer Environment.
The judge directed the petitioner to raise his grievance before the District Coordination Officer, who shall decide the matter in 30 days.
The petitioner said on May 19, 2008, the District Officer (Environment) stopped them from erecting the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) at Data Colony Faisalabad and Kot Lakhpat.
The petitioner added their towers were set up under the Companies Ordinance 1984 after obtaining a license from the government of Pakistan. They added they have set up BTS throughout Pakistan with the permission of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. They said when they were about to finish setting up of their 22 meters high tower in Faisalabad and Kot Lakhpat, the DO (Environment) sealed the BTS as well as the equipment. They added the principle of natural justice was not followed, as the petitioner was not issued with a notice.  They said the DO wrongly invoked section 12 of Environmental Act 1997 before sealing their equipment. They added the petitioner and other cellular companies had been in the business of setting up towers since 1992 whereas the Environmental Act came into existence in 1997.
They said the legislature had excluded the setting up of tower from the act. They added they were not required to file Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) unless the project was likely to cause an adverse environmental effect.