*(Am re-sending this mail as it had formatting problems when posted yesterday.)*
It is quite demeaning to the people of Saligao to be classified as non-thinkers who are being ‘misled’ by a small group of people. Even relatively lesser educated village folk have the intelligence and common sense to judge for themselves. At a Gram Sabha meeting several months ago, a resolution had already been passed that mobile towers should be located at least 500 mts from residential areas. Despite this, and without any discussion with neighbours, which would have been the *ethical* thing to do- the Tower construction began suddenly taking most villagers by surprise. More recently, on 19 Feb 2012- the Gram Sabha once more discussed this particular tower, and reiterated the earlier decision by once again passing a unanimous resolution against mobile towers in dense residential areas of the village, 500 mts away- with attendance by scores of people from all walks of life. *Is one also to assume then that the thinking populations in many cities across India and the world, who are filing PILs and protesting against mobile towers in residential areas, are also ill-informed and being misled?* * * *Apart from the obvious radiation risks where people are just not convinced about ‘zero radiation’, and are unwilling to **compromise their health and that of their children , there are other factors that make this site unsuitable : ***** · the site is located in the middle of a quiet residential area surrounded by stately Portuguese houses, which are largely *ground floor*structures- how can one allow an ugly monstrous tower of approx . 150 feet, equivalent to the height of a *15 storey building* ruin this beautiful landscape?**** · it is feared that property prices will crash in the immediate vicinity with a 15 storey high ugly and monstrous tower added with radiation risk, looming next door**** · the site is located at a critical intersection of two narrow village lanes, which is a blind spot and a known accident spot, with large buses and trucks driving past**** · there is no open space around or any setback around the site- in case of accident, natural disasters it will be a monumental disaster if knocked down**** · the destruction that the tower will cause to the biodiversity and natural beauty of the village, in close proximity to a well-documented eco sensitive spot- Salmona, where many bird species thrive.**** · there are irregularities in the permissions granted (there is no construction license etc) The fact that the application for NOC was submitted, and the indecent haste by which it was granted by the Panchayat on the *same day* ( 15 Dec 2011) is in itself not disturbing? Does this also not raise doubts on the authenticity of the so-called ‘green’ and 'radiation safe' aspects about this tower that are being touted?**** * * *Though the land is privately owned, does this give anyone the right to defile and deflower the area in terms of the air above and the properties around it, and also jeopardize the health of the neighbours ? Do the neighbours have no say in matters concerning their immediate surroundings where they lead their entire lives; and to the potential de-valuing of their private properties? Do we want this lovely village to be ruined forever with this permanent structure?***** And let us not fool ourselves that the community consensus not being sought prior to commencement of work was a naïve or innocent oversight - it was a *well planned, deliberate decision*. Sonali Trivedi ** -- Saligao-Net is at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe email [email protected]
