Lok Sabha Question No. 342 (STARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Violation of EMF Norms
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: NITYANAND RAI, BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.342 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH   AUGUST, 2016

## VIOLATION OF EMF NORMS

## †*342. SHRI NITYANAND RAI:

SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI PATIL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the Electro Magnetic Frequency (EMF) norms laid down for mobile towers and handsets along with agencies/authorities in place to ensure compliance of these norms;
- (b) the number of mobile towers and handset manufacturing companies found to be violating EMF norms during the last three years and the current year, company and State-wise;
- (c) the  action  taken  and  the  penalties  imposed  on  the  telecom  service  providers  and companies for the said violations;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  increased  the  financial  penalty  for  the  violation  of  EMF norms and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the directives issued by the Government to the service providers regarding installation of the towers in and around residential areas, educational institutions and hospitals?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK    SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  342  FOR  10 TH AUGUST,  2016 REGARDING 'VIOLATION OF EMF NORMS'.

(a) Madam,  Department  of  Telecommunications  (DoT),  in  the  year  2008,  adopted  the International  Commission  on  Non  Ionizing  Radiation  Protection  (ICNIRP)  guidelines  that  are recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) for basic restriction and limiting reference levels  of  electromagnetic  radiation from mobile  towers.  Based  on  the  recommendations of an Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC),  with  effect  from  01.09.2012,  these  limits  have  been  further made  ten  times  more  stringent  than  the  limits  prescribed  by  ICNIRP  and  recommended  by WHO. The present Electro Magnetic Frequency (EMF)  radiation limits  as  laid  down for  Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) installed on various mobile towers in India are as follows:

| Frequency Range     | E-Field Strength (Volt/Meter)   | H-Field Strength (Amp/Meter)   | Power Density (Watt/Sq.Meter)   |
|---------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 400 MHz to 2000 MHz | 0.434 f ½                       | 0.0011 f ½                     | f / 2000                        |
| 2 GHz to 300 GHz    | 19.29                           | 0.05                           | 1                               |

(f is frequency in MHz)

The present limit/level of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for Mobile Handsets in India is also one of the most stringent in the world and is 1.6 Watt per Kg averaged over a mass of onegram human tissue.

The work of ensuring compliance to the prescribed stricter precautionary norms of EMF radiation from mobile tower has been entrusted to Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) field  units  of  DoT.  The  compliance  testing  of  Mobile  BTSs  is  done  as  per  standard procedures prescribed by Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC). TEC has also set-up a laboratory at New Delhi for testing of SAR value of mobile handsets imported/manufactured in India.

(b) In  the  last  three  years  i.e.  calendar  year  2013,  2014,  2015  and  the  current  year  2016 (upto  31.05.2016),  108  number  of  BTSs  installed  on  various  mobile  towers  have  been  found exceeding the prescribed EMF radiation limits by the TERM cells. Licensed Service Area wise (LSA-wise)  and  Telecom  Service  Provider(TSP)  wise  details  of  these  BTSs  is  attached  at Annexure-I & Annexure-II respectively.

(c) TERM Cells have imposed financial penalty amounting to Rs 6.60 crores on defaulting TSPs as per the prescribed DoT guidelines for the non-compliant BTSs detailed in Annexure-I. Further, one BTS in Haryana LSA was shut down by the defaulting TSP and for the remaining non-compliant BTSs, radiation levels have been brought within prescribed radiation limits.

(d) The financial penalty to be imposed on defaulting TSPs for non-compliant BTSs that are found exceeding prescribed EMF radiation limit has been increased from Rs. 5 lacs to Rs. 10 lacs per BTS per incidence with effect from 20.11.2013.

(e) BTSs are  established  at  mobile  towers  by  the  TSPs  at  suitable  locations,  as  per  their Radio Frequency (RF) network planning for proper coverage of the area and as per their service requirement to fulfil the license conditions. Prior to installation of mobile towers, the TSPs have to obtain siting clearance from Standing Advisory Committee on Frequency Allocation (SACFA) of  DoT for every site from the point of view of interference with other wireless users, aviation hazards  and  obstruction  to  any  other  existing  microwave  links.  However,  siting  clearances  of DoT  are  issued  without  prejudice  to  other  applicable  by-laws,  rules  and  regulations  of  local bodies such as municipal corporation, Gram Panchayat etc. TSPs have also to obtain necessary right  of  way  related  clearances  from  concerned  local  authorities  before  installation  of  tower. Various local  bodies  /State  Governments  have  formulated  their  own  policy  regarding  grant  of such permissions for installation of mobile towers.

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 '.

DoT,  has  issued  advisory  guidelines  to  state  governments  on  01.08.2013  for  issue  of clearance  for  installation  of  mobile  towers.  These  guidelines  do  not  place  any  restriction  on installation of mobile towers near the residential areas, educational institutions and hospitals.

This matter has also been agitated in different High Courts from time to time.  Several High  Courts  viz  Hon'ble  High  Courts  of  Punjab  &  Haryana,  Madras,  Kerala,  Gujarat,  Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Allahabad in the court cases related to issue of effects of the radiation from cell  phone  towers  have  given  judgments  whereby  they  have  dismissed  petitions,  where  the mobile tower installations at various locations, including residential, were challenged on grounds of health effects of EMF radiations.

Contd…4/-

Annexure-I Licensed Service Area (LSA) wise details of number of non-compliant BTSs found exceeding prescribed radiation limits during last three calendar years i.e. 2013 to 2015 and current year 2016 (up to 31.05.2016)

| SN          |                                 | Year 2013                     | Year 2013                                                      | Year 2014                     | Year 2014                                                      | Year 2015                     | Year 2015                                                      | Year 2016 (upto 31.05.16)     | Year 2016 (upto 31.05.16)                                        |
|-------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| SN          | LSA                             | Number of BTSs as on 31.12.13 | Number of BTSs found exceeding prescribed EMF radiation limits | Number of BTSs as on 31.12.14 | Number of BTSs found exceeding prescribed EMF radiation limits | Number of BTSs as on 31.12.15 | Number of BTSs found exceeding prescribed EMF radiation limits | Number of BTSs as on 31.05.16 | Number of BTSs found exceedin g prescrib ed EMF radiation limits |
| 1           | Andhra Pradesh                  | 63697                         | 0                                                              | 68674                         | 0                                                              | 88449                         | 0                                                              | 93993                         | 0                                                                |
| 2           | Assam                           | 14689                         | 0                                                              | 16054                         | 2                                                              | 19671                         | 0                                                              | 24784                         | 0                                                                |
| 3           | Bihar                           | 44105                         | 0                                                              | 46378                         | 0                                                              | 51228                         | 0                                                              | 58952                         | 0                                                                |
| 4           | Delhi                           | 34062                         | 0                                                              | 38386                         | 0                                                              | 55673                         | 0                                                              | 61332                         | 0                                                                |
| 5           | Gujarat                         | 47761                         | 0                                                              | 51959                         | 0                                                              | 68976                         | 0                                                              | 71870                         | 0                                                                |
| 6           | Haryana                         | 18608                         | 0                                                              | 20075                         | 0                                                              | 27337                         | 0                                                              | 29392                         | 0                                                                |
| 7           | Himachal Pradesh                | 7381                          | 0                                                              | 7841                          | 0                                                              | 10153                         | 0                                                              | 11442                         | 0                                                                |
| 8           | Jammu and Kashmir               | 11626                         | 0                                                              | 12294                         | 0                                                              | 14959                         | 0                                                              | 17160                         | 0                                                                |
| 9           | Karnataka                       | 57306                         | 2                                                              | 63244                         | 8                                                              | 79848                         | 6                                                              | 90919                         | 0                                                                |
| 10          | Kerala                          | 34327                         | 0                                                              | 36667                         | 0                                                              | 48321                         | 0                                                              | 54520                         | 0                                                                |
| 11          | Kolkata                         | 19983                         | 0                                                              | 21671                         | 0                                                              | 29036                         | 0                                                              | 31780                         | 0                                                                |
| 12          | Maharashtra (excluding Mumbai)  | 66475                         | 4                                                              | 70546                         | 0                                                              | 92607                         | 0                                                              | 100412                        | 0                                                                |
| 13          | Madhya Pradesh                  | 47409                         | 0                                                              | 49039                         | 14                                                             | 67119                         | 0                                                              | 75901                         | 0                                                                |
| 14          | Mumbai                          | 26905                         | 55                                                             | 27915                         | 0                                                              | 37112                         | 0                                                              | 43578                         | 0                                                                |
| 15          | North East                      | 9010                          | 0                                                              | 10284                         | 0                                                              | 12481                         | 0                                                              | 15103                         | 0                                                                |
| 16          | Odisha                          | 21376                         | 0                                                              | 22017                         | 0                                                              | 27819                         | 0                                                              | 31750                         | 0                                                                |
| 17          | Punjab                          | 27971                         | 0                                                              | 31625                         | 0                                                              | 40329                         | 0                                                              | 48693                         | 0                                                                |
| 18          | Rajasthan                       | 36225                         | 1                                                              | 39647                         | 0                                                              | 48310                         | 0                                                              | 53677                         | 0                                                                |
| 19          | Tamilnadu (including Chennai)   | 67379                         | 0                                                              | 74076                         | 0                                                              | 97575                         | 0                                                              | 104166                        | 0                                                                |
| 20          | Uttar Pradesh (East)            | 51112                         | 10                                                             | 52726                         | 0                                                              | 65868                         | 0                                                              | 76248                         | 0                                                                |
| 21          | Uttar Pradesh (West)            | 39207                         | 0                                                              | 42380                         | 0                                                              | 50942                         | 0                                                              | 54363                         | 0                                                                |
| 22          | West Bengal (excluding Kolkata) | 28517                         | 0                                                              | 31060                         | 0                                                              | 37588                         | 6                                                              | 40832                         | 0                                                                |
| Grand Total | Grand Total                     | 775131                        | 72                                                             | 834558                        | 24                                                             | 1071401                       | 12                                                             | 1190867                       | 0                                                                |

Contd…5/-

## Telecom Service Provider (TSP) wise details of number of non-compliant BTSs found exceeding prescribed radiation limits during last three calendar years i.e. 2013 to 2015 and current year 2016 (up to 31.05.2016)

| SN   | TSP                                        |   Number of BTSs as on 31.12.13 | Number of BTSs found exceeding prescribed EMF radiation limits during Year 2013   |   Number of BTSs as on 31.12.14 | Number of BTSs found exceeding prescribed EMF radiation limits during Year 2014   |   Number of BTSs as on 31.12.15 |   Number of BTSs found exceeding prescribed EMF radiation limits during Year 2015 |   Number of BTSs as on 31.05.16 |   Number of BTSs found exceeding prescribed EMF radiation limits during Year 2016 (up to 31.05.16) |
|------|--------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1    | AIRCEL/DISHN ET                            |                           50766 | 4                                                                                 |                           54766 | 1                                                                                 |                           66310 |                                                                                 2 |                           68923 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 2    | Airtel/BHL                                 |                          166847 | 12                                                                                |                          185906 | 6                                                                                 |                          244547 |                                                                                 5 |                          279079 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 3    | BSNL                                       |                          107544 | 2                                                                                 |                          113697 | 6                                                                                 |                          120190 |                                                                                 0 |                          123167 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 4    | Etisalat/Allianz                           |                            1428 | 0                                                                                 |                            1366 | 0                                                                                 |                            1366 |                                                                                 0 |                            1366 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 5    | IDEA/ABTL                                  |                          114277 | 5                                                                                 |                          134854 | 3                                                                                 |                          171330 |                                                                                 0 |                          193609 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 6    | Loop                                       |                            2047 | 4                                                                                 |                             129 | 0                                                                                 |                               4 |                                                                                 0 |                               4 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 7    | MTNL                                       |                            3660 | 2                                                                                 |                            3603 | 0                                                                                 |                            3227 |                                                                                 0 |                            3186 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 8    | QTL/HFCL                                   |                            2032 | 0                                                                                 |                            2173 | 0                                                                                 |                            2389 |                                                                                 0 |                            2410 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 9    | Reliance                                   |                           92248 | 16                                                                                |                           77138 | 3                                                                                 |                           67730 |                                                                                 0 |                           64310 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 10   | Reliance Jio                               |                               0 | 0                                                                                 |                            4083 | 0                                                                                 |                          112420 |                                                                                 0 |                          152509 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 11   | SPICE TELECOM                              |                            6561 | 0                                                                                 |                            2267 | 0                                                                                 |                               0 |                                                                                 0 |                               0 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 12   | SSTL (MTS)                                 |                            8145 | 1                                                                                 |                            8119 | 0                                                                                 |                            8211 |                                                                                 0 |                            8201 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 13   | STEL                                       |                              33 | 0                                                                                 |                               0 | 0                                                                                 |                               0 |                                                                                 0 |                               0 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 14   | Tikona                                     |                               0 | 0                                                                                 |                               0 | 0                                                                                 |                             419 |                                                                                 0 |                             423 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 15   | TTSL/TTML                                  |                           64029 | 11                                                                                |                           66626 | 3                                                                                 |                           68598 |                                                                                 2 |                           69503 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 16   | Videocon                                   |                            4826 |                                                                                   |                            5040 |                                                                                   |                            5069 |                                                                                 0 |                            1769 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 17   | Vodafone                                   |                          130562 | 12                                                                                |                          150075 | 2                                                                                 |                          175417 |                                                                                 3 |                          196321 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 18   | Uninor                                     |                           19854 | 3                                                                                 |                           24716 | 0                                                                                 |                           24174 |                                                                                 0 |                           25726 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 19   | AUGERE                                     |                               0 | 0                                                                                 |                               0 | 0                                                                                 |                               0 |                                                                                 0 |                             361 |                                                                                                  0 |
| 20   | Wireless Business Services Private Limited |                             272 | 0                                                                                 |                               0 | 0                                                                                 |                               0 |                                                                                 0 |                               0 |                                                                                                  0 |
|      | Grand Total                                |                          775131 | 72                                                                                |                          834558 | 24                                                                                |                         1071401 |                                                                                12 |                         1190867 |                                                                                                  0 |

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