radiation norms- sachin pilot intervenes

4^th June, 2011

Expert Group Recommends Much Stricter Radiation Norms for Mobile Handsets and Towers- SACHIN PILOT

Shri Sachin Pilot, the Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, said today that “while telecom is a huge success story in India, we have to ensure that any possible health related effects of radiation emitted by mobile phones and towers are reflected in the guidelines. The final guidelines would take into account the best global benchmarks and scientific evidence on the subject”.

The Government has been sensitive to the issue of possible health-related effects of radiation emissions from mobile towers and phones. In July and August, 2010, Shri Sachin Pilot, conducted consultations on the subject with multiple stakeholders both in the Government and the private sector.  As a follow-up, the Department of Telecommunications set-up an Inter Ministerial Group in August 2010 to evaluate the evidence, revisit radiation guidelines for mobile towers and adopt guidelines for radiation emission by cell phones. This group had experts from Department of Telecom, Ministry of Health, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Environment & Forests and Indian Council of Medical Research.

The Inter Ministerial Group has submitted its report, after placing it on the internet for public comments and suggestions. Salient recommendations of the expert group are;

Mobile Handsets:

·         The Group has proposed revising the limit of 2 watts per kilogram averaged over 10 grams tissue to 1.6 watts per kilogram averaged over 1 gram tissue.

·         Mandatory declaration of radiation level on each mobile handset.

Mobile Towers:

·         Radiation norms which are ten times as strict as the existing ones- from f/200 watts per square meter to f/2000 watts per square meter, have been recommended.

·         Earlier, necessary amendments were carried out in the Access Service Licenses in 2008 mandating self-certification radiation levels of towers to ensure compliance with WHO-endorsed guidelines of International Commission for Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) adopted by India Each instance of non-compliance carries a penalty of Rs.5 lakhs.

·         Till 31^st March, 2011, 5,88,645 out of 6,05,859 base stations had been self-certified. The report is under consideration of Department of Telecom.