DoT raises awareness on EMF radiation

An awareness programme was organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Communications on Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Emissions and Mobile Towers. This is part of a nationwide programme to facilitate digital India initiative.  Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Communications, graced the occasion as Chief Guest in the inaugural session of this programme and delivered the inaugural address.

Shri O. P. Meena, Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan, participated as a Special Guest in the inaugural session of this programme, along with Shri J. S. Deepak, Secretary, DoT, DDG TERM, DoT, and other senior officials of the Government of Rajasthan in the panel. Shri Rajpal Singh Shekhwat, Minister of Industry, Government of Rajasthan, also graced the occasion and supported the initiative. The panel comprised of senior members of the DoT, Principal Secretaries, Government of Rajasthan, Advisor of Health Ministry, and medical experts and professors of IIT, Bombay.  

This initiative is aimed at bridging the communication gap and equipping various stakeholders like citizens and residents, chiefs of municipal bodies, government officers, municipal councillors and office-bearers of Residents’ Welfare Associations with scientific evidences and facts on EMF which clearly prove that non-ionising radiation from mobile towers are not harmful or hazardous for human health. The norms of the Government of India are stricter and are rigorously implemented ensuring that emissions from mobile towers remain within the permissible limit and government guidelines are strictly adhered too.

Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Communications Manoj Sinha said, “Telecom is a key source of communication and empowerment of citizens and an effective tool for socioeconomic development of a nation. It is the backbone for growth and modernization of various sectors. The delivery of voice and data services to those who are at the bottom of the pyramid in India can be done through mobile networks only. A conducive ecosystem for infrastructure rollouts is essential to take the country on the path to progress.”

Shri J. S. Deepak, Secretary, Telecom Commission, DoT, said, “We are absolutely committed to protect the health of our citizens, the standards for Electromagnetic Radiation limit that DoT has prescribed for emission from mobile towers are ten times stricter than the international standards prescribed by ICNIRP and recommended by WHO. The Indian Government has taken adequate steps to ensure that Telecommunications Service Providers (TSPs) strictly adhere to these norms. We want to continue working together to create a fully connected and empowered India and for them we need more towers.”

Dr R. M. Chaturvedi, DDG-CS, DoT, said, “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. Current evidence does not confirm any correlation between health ailments and exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields.” He also referred to the WHO-led EMF Project, involving over 50 national authorities and 8 international organizations. Together, since 1996, they have been reviewing scientific information to provide scientifically sound and objective answers to public concerns about possible hazards of low-level electromagnetic fields. Despite extensive research, to date, there is no evidence to conclude that exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields is harmful to human health.”

A Committee, formed at the behest of the Hon’ble Allahabad High Court comprising experts from five IITs, AIIMS (Delhi), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, has also, on the basis of scientific evidences, studies and reports available, found that there is no conclusive evidence about the stated dangers of EMF radiation from mobile BTS tower.

Dr Arun Chougule, Professor & Head, Department of Radiological Physics, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, stated, “A lot of research and many scientific studies have already been done to find the possible link between EMF emissions and human health, but nothing so far proves any correlation between them. Experts in healthcare agree that there is nothing that substantiates the belief that EMF emissions can cause severe health hazards.”

Several Indian Courts, including the High Courts of Punjab & Haryana, Madras, Kerala, Gujarat and Allahabad hearing cases related to effects of radiation from cellphone towers, have delivered verdicts dismissing petitions raising concerns against mobile tower installations on grounds that they posed risk to people’s health.