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Residents of building in Trombay claim that three towers set up by mobile firms are causing memory loss and giving them nightmares

Three towers installed illegally on the terrace of Soyuz complex in Trombay have  allegedly been giving its residents nightmares, and poor grades to their children.
 

Triple trouble: The three towers on the Soyuz complex terrace in Trombay. Pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi

	The Other Side
	Abu Gangawali, secretary, Soyuz Housing society countered, "We have an agreement with the cellular companies and they are paying us rent. It is not illegal and they already have permission from the municipal department. I am not aware of any health hazards." Vodafone spokesperson Madhvendra Das said, "I will get back to you once I check the details." The MTNL or Airtel spokespersons were not available for comments despite repeated calls. Saudagar Jadhav, PRO for the BMC, could not be contacted despite several phone calls.

Residents had earlier complained to civic agencies, after which the deputy municipal commissioner, Zone V, Greater Mumbai had ordered the three cellular companies -- Vodafone, MTNL and Bharti -- to remove their towers within 15 days. The letter, of which Mid Day has a copy, was sent on January 30 this year, but the towers are yet to be removed.

Faroouq Padikal, a society resident, said, "After filing an RTI, we found that the towers were illegal. If the companies don't remove them, we will do it ourselves. But for that, we need police protection, and they are not co-operating."

Faroouq added, "My kid, a Std VI student was good in studies, but lately his performance has taken a dip.

Doctors told us that the towers have played a major part in this. There are others whose kids have suffered memory loss."

Another resident, former journalist Devika Mann, confirmed, "I stay on the seventh floor. When these towers were installed, I had nightmares. I could not sleep, had body pain, and there was a constant buzz in my head.

It was only later that I realised that all this was  because of the towers.  Sometimes, I have to go to my friend's house to sleep," Devika said.

Other residents alleged that the RWA members were hand-in-glove with the cellular companies. The residents alleged that the members were paying them rent for illegally installing the towers.

Expert speak

"Electromagnetic radiations are known to cause health hazards," said Dr K K Agarwal, dean, Board of Medical Education, Moolchand Medcity, New Delhi. The number of cancer patients has risen since the advent of cellphones." The SC had earlier issued notices to companies after a hearing contended that radiations from communication towers cause diseases like cancer, tumors, childhood leukemia and breast cancer.