Lok Sabha Question No. 2632 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Installation of Mobile Towers
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2632 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  AUGUST, 2021

## INSTALLATION OF MOBILE TOWERS

## †2632. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether mobile towers can be installed in densely populated areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government follows the standards and best practices while giving approval to the installation of mobile towers and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  on  harmful  impact  of  radiation emanating from such towers on human health and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (d) whether the people are not allowing installation of mobile towers in their areas due to apprehension about the radiation and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the number of such cases reported so far in Rajasthan where there have been protest by the people against the installation of mobile towers?

ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) & (b) Yes Sir. DoT follows the standards and best practices recommended by relevant International agencies/ organisations such as World Health Organization (WHO), International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), International Advisory Committee (IAC) on EMF, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and various Study Groups under ITU for monitoring global developments in this regard.

Based  on  above,  Department  of  Telecommunications  has  issued  advisory  guidelines, dated 01.08.2013, to State Governments for issue of clearance for installation of mobile towers. These guidelines to State Governments are applicable to all areas including residential areas and do not place any restriction on installation of mobile towers in densely populated areas.

In addition, Government has taken following initiatives:

- i. The EMF emission norms in India are 10 times more stringent than that as prescribed by ICNIRP.

- ii. Government  has put in place a well-structured process and mechanism  for monitoring  any  violation,  so  that  Telecom  Service  Providers  strictly  adhere  to  the prescribed norms including submission of self-certificate before commercial start of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) site. The field units of Department of Telecommunications  also  regularly  carry  out  the  EMF  audit  upto  10%  BTS  Sites annually on random basis.
- iii. Government has also doubled the penalty for violation of the prescribed EMF norms from Rs.5 lakhs to Rs.10 lakhs per BTS per incidence with effect from 20.11.2013 and further to 20 Lakhs per site on 29-03-2019.
- iv. Government  has  launched a  web  portal  namely  'Tarang  Sanchar'  for  sharing Information  on  Mobile  Towers  and  EMF  Emission  Compliances,  with  a  view  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.Additionally, general public can also request for EMF emission measurement at any location by paying requisite fee.

(c) An Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC),  setup  in  2010  to  examine  the  effect  of  Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) emission from Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) and mobile phones, after examining  various  national  and  international  studies  on  the  environmental  and  health  related concerns due to EMF, had, inter-alia, indicated that most of the laboratory studies were unable to find  a  direct  link  between  exposure  to  radio  frequency  radiation  and  health;  and  the  scientific studies  as  yet  have  not  been  able  to  confirm  a  cause  and  effect  relationship  between  radio frequency radiation and health.

Also,  a  committee,  constituted  by  Hon'ble  High  Court  Allahabad  including  Members from IITs of Kharagpur, Kanpur, Delhi, Roorkee, Bombay and from other scientific institutions of the country including Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Delhi, in their report submitted in 2014, has, inter-alia, noted - ' ... On the basis of scientific evidences, studies and reports available, it has been found that there is no conclusive evidence about the stated dangers of EMF radiation from mobile BTS tower... ' The Committee has noted that ' there are no conclusive evidence to establish any causal link between the effect of EMF radiation from BTS with biological effects described in cell models, animals or humans, and any possible resulting health effects .'

Further, a joint initiative has been launched by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) under Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Department of Telecommunications (DoT), wherein nineteen research proposals, have already been initiated to study possible impact of EMF exposure from mobile towers and handsets on life i.e. Humans, Living Organisms, Flora & Fauna and Environment.At present, the studies are non-conclusive.

(d) Yes, there have been some instances where people are not allowing setting up of mobile towers in their areas due to apprehension about EMF radiation.

(e) As per information available with DoT, about 83 Public Grievances have been reported during last three calendar years against installation of mobile tower. In addition to that,13 court cases are pending in Rajasthan against installation of mobile tower.

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