DoT Approves Campaign to Allay Radiation Fears About Telecom Towers

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has asked its monitoring wing TERM to carry out a media campaign to allay "undue apprehensions" about possible health effects of radiation from telecom towers.

In a letter to Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cells, the DoT said the Gujarat High Court has directed, through a judgement, that necessary steps be taken regarding awareness of general public to mitigate their general fear and apprehension about radiation from towers.

TERM, which is made up of 34 cells in India's 24 telecom circles and 10 large telecom districts, is responsible for vigilance, monitoring and security of the network.

"TERM units are requested to take necessary action to spread public awareness so as to allay undue apprehensions in respect of possible health effects from EMF radiations," the DoT wrote last month.

It cited the judgement which said the Court deemed it necessary to mention that the concerned authorities should, by way, of communication through TV, radio etc., bring it to the notice of the people at large that there is no reason for them to fear the erection of the BTS.

The DoT said TERM, Ahmedabad has already taken various steps like coordinating workshop, interacting with print and electronic media etc.

The judgement of the Gujarat High Court came in response to a petition filed by Mukti Park Cooperative Society praying for removal of tower erected outside the premises of petitioners on the ground that it would cause health hazard due to radiations. The petition was rejected by the Court.

Earlier, a panel set up by the DoT had also said there is "no conclusive evidence" about the dangers of radiation from mobile towers.

The 13-member panel consisted government officials, IIT professors from Kharagpur, Kanpur and Roorkee, a medical consultant from AIIMS and scientists.

There have been fears among people that radiation from mobile towers causes cancer and has other effects on health. This led some people objecting to installation of mobile towers near their homes. This has created a hurdle for companies eyeing expansion in network coverage.

Mobile phones emit low levels of radio-frequency energy. According to the US Food and Drug Administration website, the radio-frequency exposure that people experience from base stations is typically much lower than from

cellphones because the antennas are mounted on towers or other building structures and are substantially away from public.