The Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) has sought intervention from the Maharashtra government to resolve the existing issues of Maharashtra Telecom Policy 2018. Besides, the tower companies have cautioned the Maharashtra government that if the issue is unresolved, then this may cause a huge impediment in the growth and progress of the telecom industry.
To this end, the DIPA, in a letter to Debashish Chakraborty, chief secretary, Maharashtra, has asked for the implementation of the Right of Way (RoW) policy as local authorities are formulating their own policies in contravention to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) guidelines.
DIPA has also urged that the regularisation clause for all existing towers should be incorporated into the state’s RoW policy, adding that there is an urgent need to rationalise property tax considering other progressive states charge a fixed property tax on the telecom towers.
Meanwhile, DIPA also noted that area-based restrictions should be lifted as no such restrictions are imposed by the telecom department for installation of towers in areas such as schools, colleges, and college buildings.
