Why are the politicians who were quick enough to blame the government for poor infrastructure not trying to convince the people? Or are they the ones who have instigated the people against such development of infrastructure for political gains?
Secondly, the panchayat has no role to play when the legislation has been passed by the State Assembly, wherein according to New Tower policy, there would be no requirement of panchayat permission for setting up the mobile towers.
Why are the Colve panchayat members meddling in issues which are out of their jurisdiction?
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemakrponn
For the last one and a half years, we have seen our students struggle to get network connectivity for online classes. They walked several kilometres to get a proper mobile network. Sometimes they sat on trees or in dense forests to not miss the important lessons.
While by their struggles the students have somehow learnt their lessons, the parents and the elders of the society have failed to take any lessons from the past 18 months life gave us.
Sadly, students have been the biggest victims of the COVID19 pandemic as their education has suffered. All this happened as the State had no proper connectivity, and the blame was on the State government led by Dr Pramod Sawant for his failure to give proper mobile infrastructure.
While the second wave is not over yet, the health experts anticipate the third wave of COVID19. Hence, there is an ambiguity about whether the schools will commence this year or not.
Amidst all this, the government decided to develop a new mobile tower policy to ramp up infrastructure in many parts of the State.
However, shockingly the recent developments in Colva have proved that government is not solely responsible for the failure to develop infrastructure, but some ill-informed individuals, who have been brainwashed by some politicians for vested interest too, are equally responsible for the poor network connectivity.
Healthcare practitioners and experts have come out to support the telecom industry to allay fears that radiation from mobile towers is harmful and can even cause cancer.
Apprehension about radiation from towers is one of the biggest challenges that service providers face today. It has often led to a face-off with resident welfare associations and consumer groups, slowing the expansion of telecom infrastructure.
Telecom operators say problems in setting up mobile towers are causing service quality issues.
“There is no scientific data to indicate the existence of cancer risk from mobile tower emissions,” said Dr N Eshwar Chandra of the Grace Cancer Foundation. “No scientific evidence is found to establish a link between ailments like cancer and infertility and radio frequency (RF) radiation.”
When the experts have already concluded that mobile tower does not cause cancer, why are the people in Colva protesting? Are they not concerned about the future of their children who are suffering?
Why are the politicians who were quick enough to blame the government for poor infrastructure not trying to convince the people? Or are they the ones who have instigated the people against such development of infrastructure for political gains?
Secondly, the panchayat has no role to play when the legislation has been passed by the State Assembly, wherein according to New Tower policy, there would be no requirement of panchayat permission for setting up the mobile towers.
Why are the Colve panchayat members meddling in issues which are out of their jurisdiction?
The panchayat members and the people protesting may be rich enough to have an optic-fibre broadband connection at homes, a comfort which many poor people cannot afford, and hence they are protesting.
It’s time we move above the petty politics and think about the poor students and their future and not play politics, for they are the future of our State and the country.