Lok Sabha Question No. 2695 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Regulations on Installation of Mobile Towers
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: M. Selvaraj, A. Chellakumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2695 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  MARCH, 2021

## REGULATIONS ON INSTALLATION OF MOBILE TOWERS

2695. SHRI M. SELVARAJ: DR. A. CHALLAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  regulations  issued  by  the  Government  for  installation  of  Base  Transmitting Station (BTS) and radiation emission norms for BTS and mobile handsets;
- (b) the number of tower companies which have not complied with these regulations and the action taken by the Government against them, company-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has prepared a list of illegal BTSs and issued direction to the mobile companies to remove/shift these towers from public places such as schools, hospitals, etc.;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  number  of  such  towers  removed/shifted  so  far,  State-wise including Tamil Nadu; and
- (e) whether the High Court of Delhi has also issued any direction on radiation emission norms and installation of BTS and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a) Sir,  the  copy  of  latest  notification  regarding  emission  norms  for  Base  Transceiver Station (BTS) is available at https://dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/26-06-2013.pdf. The notifications regarding emission norms for mobile handsets are available at https://dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/Specific\_absorption.pdf. The copy of latest advisory guidelines for State Governments for issue of clearance for installation of mobile towers may be seen at https://dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/Advisor%20STC%20DTC.pdf.
- (b) Telecom  Company  wise  number  of  BTSs  which  have  not  complied  with  these regulations is attached as Annexure-1.

Government  has  taken  action  by  imposing  financial  penalty  on  defaulting  Telecom Service Providers(TSPs) as per the prescribed norms of Department of Telecommunications. One (1) non-compliant BTS of M/s Airtel in Haryana was shut down due to non-compliance of radiation  level  and  other  non-compliant  BTSs  radiation  level  has  been  brought  within  the prescribed limits.

- (c) No illegal mobile tower is functioning in the country as per the records available with Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

As per the existing policy for installation of towers, Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) wing of DoT issues 'siting clearance' for installation  of mobile towers for each and every site  from  the  point  of  view  of  interference  with  other  licensed  wireless  users,  aviation hazards and obstruction to any other existing microwave links. DoT issues 'siting clearances' without  prejudice  to  other  applicable  bylaws,  rule  and  regulations  of  local  bodies  such  as Municipal  Corporation,  Gram  Panchayat  etc.  Accordingly,  before  installation  of  tower,  the telecom  service  providers  have  to  obtain  necessary  clearances  from  concerned  authorities  of Local bodies/ State Government also. Various local bodies/State Government have formulated their own policy regarding grant of such permissions for installation of mobile towers.

(d) Does not arise in view (c) above.

(e) As per records available, no direction on radiation emission norms and installation of BTS have been issued by Hon'ble High Court of Delhi.

## Annexure-1

| S. No.   | Telecom Service Provider's Name   |   Non-compliant on technical grounds(Radiation Level) till 31.01.2021 |
|----------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Aircel/ Dishnet                   |                                                                    21 |
| 2        | Airtel/ BHL                       |                                                                   101 |
| 3        | BSNL                              |                                                                     3 |
| 4        | Idea/ ABTL                        |                                                                    29 |
| 5        | Loop                              |                                                                    11 |
| 6        | MTNL                              |                                                                     3 |
| 7        | RCL_GSM                           |                                                                     2 |
| 8        | Reliance                          |                                                                    28 |
| 9        | Reliance Jio                      |                                                                    26 |
| 10       | SSTL (MTS)                        |                                                                     1 |
| 11       | Telenor                           |                                                                     1 |
| 12       | TTSL/ TTML                        |                                                                    33 |
| 13       | TTSL/ TTML/ Tata                  |                                                                     1 |
| 14       | Uninor                            |                                                                     6 |
| 15       | Videocon                          |                                                                     2 |
| 16       | VIL ( For VMSL N/w)               |                                                                     4 |
| 17       | Vodafone                          |                                                                    72 |
|          | Grand Total                       |                                                                   344 |

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