To dispel myths about the Electromagnetic Field Emissions or EMF Emissions, an awareness program was organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and Minister of Communications on Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Emissions and Mobile Towers in Guwahati this month. This program was a part of a countrywide public outreach campaign under digital India initiative, to end baseless fears of citizens regarding EMF emissions, through scientific evidence. The occasion was graced by special guests which include the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Assam, Shri Vinod Kumar Pipersenia, Chief Secretary & Principal Secretary, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Smt. Shakuntala Gamlin. Shri J.S. Deepak, Secretary, DoT, delivered the inaugural address, highlighting the importance of mobile connectivity and emphasized on the need of cultivating a scientific temper and deepening collaboration between the public, Government, and industry for growth and progress of the north-eastern states.
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| Shri JS Deepak, Smt. Shankutala Gamlin and others during the Awareness Programme on EMF Emissions |
Shri J.S. Deepak, Secretary, Telecom Commission, DoT, during his address, 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. Indian Government has taken adequate steps to ensure that Telecommunications Service Providers (TSPs) strictly adhere to these norms. The Government recognizes the challenges for the sector & the people at large and is striving to empower the citizens with facts that help them make informed decisions. We want to continue working together to create a fully connected and empowered India and for that we require more towers. Propagation of such myths is detrimental to the progress of nation.”
EMF Emissions from BTS Towers are Not Harmful!
The expert panel present at the event, comprised of senior members of the DoT, medical experts, and a Professors from IIT Bombay, Mumbai. They supported the idea of organizing such initiatives to educate the masses on EMF emission myths and clear the air on misconceptions associated. The aim of this program was to bridge the communication gap between various stakeholders like the residents, citizens, government officers, chiefs of municipal bodies, municipal councilors etc. and equip them with scientific evidence, proving that Non-ionising radiation or EMF emissions from the mobile towers is not harmful to human health. Scientific evidence and research clearly established that no correlation has been found between these emissions from mobile towers and human health diseases.
Dr. R.M. Chaturvedi from DoT pointed out that based on around 30 years of research and 25,000 studies conducted around the world, the WHO arrived at the conclusion that Current evidence does not confirm any correlation between health ailments and exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields.
Indian High Court Verdicts
Further, Hon’ble Allahabad High Court formed a committee, comprising of experts from IITs, AIIMS (Delhi), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, on the basis of scientific evidence, research and reports available, found that there is no conclusive evidence which proves that the EMF emissions from Mobile Towers are hazardous to human beings. Several Indian Courts, including the High Courts of Punjab & Haryana, Madras, Kerala, Gujarat, and Allahabad, after hearing cases related to effects of radiation from Mobile towers, have delivered their verdicts dismissing petitions raising concerns against mobile tower installations on grounds that they posed risk to people’s health. A penalty of Rs. 10 lakh per incidence is imposed in case any BTS site is found to violate the prescribed EMF norms. If the violation persists, sites can also be closed down. The Government of India norms are strict and are rigorously implemented to ensure that emissions from mobile towers remain within the permissible limit and Government guidelines are strictly followed.
During a surprise inspection by DoT, which consisted of telecom experts and doctors, came together to test the Electromagnetic Field emissions from the mobile towers in Guwahati. It was found that the mobile towers in Guwahati were transmitting well within permissible limits and, in fact, in most cases much lower than the prescribed limits in India.
Emission Levels were found under limit
A team of experts led by officials from the Telecom Enforcement, Resource & Monitoring Cell (TERM), Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Communications, Govt. of India) tested telecom tower sites at Ashok Path, Belotla, High School, Hatigaon, and Hatigaon Road measured EMF emission levels across these areas and shared the results with the people and the media present at the sites, stating that all towers are safe, substantiated by the low levels of radiation that showed up in the tests.
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| (*numbers as per tests by TERM Cell) |
The average radiation from towers monitored in three locations of Guwahati was 3.60% of the limits set by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), well within the prescribed limits. You can take a look at the above-given table for more information on the recorded radiation levels. After an in-depth analysis of various research carried out around the world on EMF radiations, and the study undertaken by World Health Organisation (WHO), we can safely conclude that there is no established fact or any scientific evidence which proves that EMF emissions are detrimental to human health.
