Mobile towers to be monitored for radiation levels

Union Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot on Saturday stated that nationwide random testing of radiations emitted by mobile towers will commence from November 16, 2010 onwards by the Telecom Engineering and Resource Monitoring (TERM) Cells.

The progress in this regard and compliance levels will be monitored centrally, and non-compliance will result in fines and penalties envisaged in existing guidelines and amended license conditions, including imposition of a penalty of Rs 5 lakh for each non-compliant tower, the Minister said.

The Electro Magnetic emissions of mobile towers in India are governed by the guidelines drawn from the recommendations of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

Mr Pilot had earlier directed that self-certification of radiation levels of all towers should be completed by the telecom operators and certificates to this effect should be submitted to the TERM Cells of the Department of Telecommunications by November 15, 2010.

Earlier, in his meeting with the telecom companies and other stakeholders in August, 2010 Mr Pilot, while lauding their efforts in improving tele-density in the country, had underscored the importance of being sensitive to any health related issues that might arise from the operation of mobile phone towers.