Surabaya Government to Put Illegal Telecommunication Towers in Order

Surabaya (Antara) - The Surabaya city government in East Java will soon put 60 illegal telecommunication towers in order.

The towers are built outside cell plan areas, Head of the Surabaya City Public Works Office, Urban, Housing Planning and Urban Development, and Spatial Layout (DPUCKTR) Eri Cahyadi said here on Wednesday.

"We have applied to the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) for assistance to control the towers built out cell plan areas," he said.

To put the telecommunication towers in order, the city authorities will not demolish them but will disconnect electrical power supplies of them, he said.

"But the problem is that state electricity company PLN is not ready to cut power supplies to the towers," he said.

PLN is not ready to cut power supplies to the towers because they consider they only cooperate with tower operators and not the city government, he said.

To solve the problem, the city government has held a series of hearings with the Surabaya City Legislative Council (DPRD) by involving PLN officials, he said.

"Hopefully, the problem could be resolved quickly," he said.

He said all towers found in cell plan areas must hold permits particularly building construction permits (IMB). (*)