Some say it’s a blessing while others say it’s a curse. Mobile phones have to a great extend made the saying ‘The world has become a global village’ come true as it has brought people closer to each other with the simple click of a few buttons.
Construction of mobile towers everywhere in the city has surely helped to improve the network problem which always gets on the nerves of mobile users, but there have been complaints from people that these towers have created a negative impact on the growth of fruits and vegetables.
A number of local farmers and housewives have complained that ever since these mobile towers have been erected almost everywhere, the growth rate of fruits and vegetables has gone down.
“Something very strange has happened. The fruits might look ripe from outside but inside, they are ruined and unfit to be eaten. So having a fruit tree at home is more like having a show piece which bears fruits just for show,” a housewife told this scribe recently.
It was also reported that the radiation emanating from these mobile towers are very strong which can have a harmful impact on living organisms on case of close contact.
“Despite this, there are some people who allow these mobile towers to be erected on top of their buildings or in their compounds” one elderly resident of Laitumkhrah said.
While expressing happiness over the advantages of this mode of communication, he said mobile phones has changed many things but it should be kept in mind that the towers which supply networks should be erected far from human habitation.
Many a times it is observed that the land owner or the owner of the building accepts a company’s offer to allow construction of a mobile tower in his land or on his roof-top. It is learnt that a company pays a huge sum of money to the land owner or the building owner for allowing construction of the towers.
Besides, such towers ensure a steady flow of rent for the owners as well.
However, another faction has disapproved with the above statement stating that if towers are kept very far then the problem of low signal will arise.
“I don’t understand what people want. They complain about problems in getting signals and when the facility is made available to ease their problem they come up with another issue. Human wants are unlimited”, a local youth asserted.
It may be recalled that last year the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) had issued a show-cause order to three companies which have erected their tower in U Lum Shyllong, the Sacred Peak but following the adamant attitude of these companies in responding to this show-cause order the KHADC was forced to suspend one of the company’s license.
However, if the towers are removed then the problem of network connection would arise which would be again a problem for the people.
One thing can however be done in the circumstance. The network companies could find out ways and means of reducing the radiation coming from the towers so that there is no compromise on either the health of people or the vegetation or in network connection for the mobile users. (By Ibankyntiew Mawrie)