Lok Sabha Question No. 650 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-19
Subject: Emissions from Mobile Towers
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI, PASHUPATI NATH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.650 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  JULY, 2017

## EMISSIONS FROM MOBILE TOWERS

650.   SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR: SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the risk of fatal diseases like cancer etc. are increasing due to rampant setting  up  of  mobile  towers  in  densely  populated  districts  of  different  States  of  the country including Jharkhand;
- (b) if  so,  the  details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the steps taken by the Government to reduce the risk of such fatal diseases associated with the mobile tower radiations;
- (c) whether the Government  has  launched 'Tarang Sanchar' web  portal for information sharing on mobile towers and Electromagnetic Radiations therefrom; and
- (d) if so, the details, the salient features and the objectives thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (b) Madam, with regard to impact of Electromagnetic Field (EMF) emissions from  mobile  towers  on  health,  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)  has  referred  to approximately  25,000  articles  published  around  the  world  over  past  30  years,  and based on an in-depth review of scientific literature, has stated, ' Despite the feeling of some people that more research needs to be done, scientific knowledge in this area is now more extensive than for most chemicals. ' WHO has concluded - ' current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields '.

In September 2013, WHO in online question and answers have mentioned that "Studies to date provide no indication that environmental exposure to RF fields, such as from base stations, increases the risk of cancer or any other disease."

With  regard  to  expansion  of  cancer  due  to  EMF  emission,  Tata  Memorial Centre is of the view, 'There are no conclusive studies in the world about emission of RF electromagnetic field from cell phone tower and risk of cancer.'

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has been monitoring global developments and has already taken necessary steps and adopted stricter norms for safety from EMF emmissions from mobile towers. Government of India has been taking due precautions and necessary actions in respect of EMF radiation emitted from mobile towers through various guidelines & norms issued from time to time taking into account the international standards/norms. To examine the effect of EMF emissions from base stations  and  mobile  phones  an  Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC)  was  constituted  on 24.08.2010. Further, based on the recommendations by the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC),  the  norms  for  exposure  limit  for  the  Radio  Frequency  Field  (Base  Station Emissions)  in  India  have  been  made  10  times  more  stringent  than  the  existing  limits prescribed by International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO). Further, Government of India has taken adequate steps to ensure that Telecommunications Service Providers strictly adhere to these prescribed norms.

All  new  mobile  BTS  sites  start  radiating  commercially  only  after  ensuring adherence  to  prescribed  norms  and  after  submission  of  certificate  to  this  effect  to relevant Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) field offices of DoT. In order  to  ensure  compliance  to  the  prescribed  stricter  precautionary  norms  of  EMF radiation from mobile tower, the extensive audit of compliance of self-certificates being submitted  by  telecom  service  providers  and  Base  Transceiver  Station  (BTS)  sites  is carried  out  by  TERM field units of  DoT.  In case,  any  BTS  site  is found  to  violate  the prescribed EMF norms, actions are taken to put a penalty of Rs. 10 lakh per BTS per incidence  including  closing  of  BTS  site,  if  the  violation  persists.  Additionally,  the  BTS sites against which there are public complaints are also tested by TERM Cell.

(c) & (d) Yes.  DoT  has  launched 'Tarang  Sanchar',  a  web  portal  for  Information sharing  on  Mobile  Towers  and  EMF  Emission  Compliances,  with  the  objective  to generate confidence and conviction with regard to safety and harmlessness from mobile towers, clearing any myths and misconceptions. The portal can be accessed at www.tarangsanchar.gov.in. The  EMF  Portal  provides  a  public  interface  where an easy  map-based  search  feature  has  been  provided  for  viewing  the  mobile  towers  in vicinity  of  any  locality.  By  click  of  a  button,  information  on  EMF  compliance  status  of mobile towers can be accessed. Detailed information about any tower site, if requested, will  be  sent  on  email  to  the  users. Additionally,  any  person  can  request  for  EMF emission measurement at a location by paying a nominal fee of Rs 4000/- online. Local Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM) field unit of DoT will conduct the test and the test reports will be provided. The portal also has 'EMF Overview' and 'Learn'  Sections,  which  provide  numerous  articles,  booklets  and  videos,  to  further educate  the  citizens  about  EMF  and  coverage  of  telecom  services.  Public  can  also access the  'DoT  Initiatives'  section  which  has  information  on  various  leaflets,  articles and Frequently Asked Questions. The portal has the complete collated technical details of  over  14.5  lakh  base  stations  (BTSs)  spread  across  the  country  of  all  technologies (2G, 3G, 4G etc.) and of all Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).

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