SCB cracks the whip on illegal cell towers

In the past not a single telecom firm responded to the notices. It is for the first time that the SCB has been successful in getting eight companies to fall in line. The SCB plans to get 800 unauthorised cell towers into the tax net this year

For the first time in the history of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) that a sum of Rs 8 lakh was recovered towards tax for cell towers. The SCB has been trying to collect tax since 2014 but the process got delayed for several reasons such as tabulation of data, survey and legal procedures. A senior official of the revenue section said that first steps are taken and soon all mobile companies and owners of buildings would fall in line.

The SCB had conducted a survey in 2014 in which it was found that there were 135 cell towers but the number; say officials could be close to 200 today. The rates have been fixed as per the guidelines issued by the state government and are on par with the GHMC.

A senior official said, “The SCB is following the guidelines of GO MS No 96 dated 5.8.15 guidelines issued by the Telangana Government.” Cell towers mushroomed over the years in the Cantonment initially with a few house owners lending their space to mobile companies.

With the rental value increasing every year, cell towers have grown manifold. The SCB finds itself in a tricky situation as the Telecom Regulatory Act mandates that once a cell tower is set up it cannot be removed.

Using the Act to their advantage, mobile companies and owners of buildings have either just not bothered or ignored the notices sent to them. It may be noted that in 2014, 135 notices were sent but none relented. The SCB created a separate revenue section to crack the whip on mobile companies. In the past the Health department was looking into the collection of revenue from cell towers.

Before cell towers are erected it is mandatory to take 21 permissions that include structural stability certificate, lease agreement deed, agreement with telecommunications, drawing of tower with complete details, indemnity to take care of any loss or injury due to accident caused by the tower,

no objection certificate from the State Disasters Response & Fire Services Department to name a few and get approval from the Department of Telecommunications. Mobile company and the owner of the building need to take prior permission from SCB but it has not happened.

The SCB has once again started issuing notices under section 244 of the Cantonment Act 2006. A senior official says that field staff is now on the job of identifying agencies and exert pressure on both the agency as well as the owner of the building.

Officials say that there are close to 200 cell towers that are unauthorised. The board is planning to collect Rs 2 crore this financial year. The rate per year per cell tower has been fixed at Rs 1 lakh.