Lok Sabha Question No. 246 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Guidelines for Setting up of Mobile Towers
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.246 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 RD  FEBRUARY, 2021

## GUIDELINES FOR SETTING UP OF MOBILE TOWERS

## †246. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) the guidelines issued by the Government to set up cell phone towers in cities and villages;

(b) whether such towers can be set up in densely populated habitations and if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government is following the best practices and adhering to best parameters of giving permission to set up cell phone towers and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  to  ascertain  the  harmful effects of the radiation emanating from such towers as well as its adverse effect on human health and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether people are not allowing setting up of mobile towers in their areas due to fear of radiation; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the number of such cases reported in Rajasthan at present?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b)Sir, Department of Telecommunications, has issued advisory guidelines to state governments on 01.08.2013 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. A copy of these guidelines is placed as Annexure-A.

(c)  Yes,  DoT  has  been  following  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.

(d)  An  Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC),  setup  in  2010  to  examine  the  effect  of Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) Radiation 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.

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

(f) There have been 86 such cases reported & 13 court cases filed in Rajasthan during last three years.

## Annexure-A

5

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