Mumbai, 25th March, 2017: An awareness programme was organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Min. of Communications on Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Emissions and Mobile Towers. This is part of a nationwide public outreach campaign to dispel myths about EMF Emissions and quell unfounded fears of citizens through scientific evidence. Shri. Sanjeev Rajoria Assistant Director General, Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM), Mumbai delivered the welcome speech and highlighting the importance of mobile connectivity across the state and emphasizing on the need of cultivating a scientific temper and deepening collaboration between the public, Government and industry for growth and progress of Mumbai.
Shri. C.P Samant, DDG TERM, Mumbai, Shri. Subodh Saxena Director (TERM-DoT), Mumbai, Dr. Kiran Kattimani, Oncologist, Grace Cancer Foundation graced the occasion as the Speakers of this programme. Senior officers from the state government, eminent persons and public representatives were also present. An expert panel comprising of telecom officers and doctors presented the scientific facts clarifying various myths on possible health hazards from mobile tower radiation.
Delivering the technical address, Shri. C.P Samant, DDG TERM, Mumbai said, that there is no scientific evidence backing the claim that EMF radiation from mobile towers, which are below the safe limits prescribed by the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), can cause adverse health effects. The DoT has already prescribed strict precautionary norms for exposure limit for the Radio Frequency Field (Base Station Emissions) which is ten times more stringent than the existing limits prescribed by ICNIRP and recommended by WHO. “Our EMF norms are much stricter than what is followed by many developed nations. Further, the Government of India has taken adequate steps to ensure that Telecommunications Service Providers strictly adhere to these prescribed norms”, Shri. Samant added.
Shri. Subodh Saxena Director (TERM-DoT), Mumbai pointed out that WHO has referred to approximately 25,000 studies, conducted around the world over the past 30 years, and based on an in-depth review of scientific literature, has concluded: “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 the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields.”
Dr. Kiran Kattimani, Oncologist, Grace Cancer Foundation referred to the EMF Project established by WHO, in which over 50 national authorities and 8 international organizations are involved. Together, since 1996, they have been reviewing scientific information to provide scientifically sound and objective answers to public concerns about the 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.
Shri. Subodh Saxena Director (TERM-DoT), Mumbai added “Strict monitoring and enforcement mechanism has been put in place by the DoT for EMF-related compliances. In case any BTS site is found to violate prescribed EMF norms, actions are taken to put a penalty of Rs. 10 lakh per BTS per incidence, including closing of BTS site in case violation persists.”
About the Department of Telecommunication (DoT)
The Department of Telecommunications, abbreviated to DoT, is part of the Ministry of Communications of the executive branch of the Government of India. Its mission is to develop a robust and secure state-of-the-art telecommunication network providing seamless coverage with special focus on rural and remote areas for bridging the digital divide and thereby facilitate socio- economic development; create an inclusive knowledge society through proliferation of affordable and high quality broadband services across the nation; reposition the mobile device as an instrument of socio-economic empowerment of citizens; make India a global hub for telecom equipment manufacturing; promote development of new standards to meet national requirements; attract investment, both domestic and foreign and promote creation of jobs.