While recommending a 10-fold increase in electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions from mobile towers, a government committee in its report also noted that the measure may adversely impact public opinion and lead to “heightened mistrust”.
“The revision of EMF norms could lead to heightened public mistrust due to the negative health effects of EMF radiation,” it said, recommending a series of advocacy efforts and heightened testing of towers at cheaper costs to allay public fears.
Mindful of public concerns and a series of court petitions regarding radiation from telecom towers, India earlier capped it at one-tenth of the ICNIRP levels, against which companies had protested, arguing that reduced EMF emissions meant poor coverage and more towers.
A source said the matter had reached the level of new communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was keen to understand the recommendations and its implications. “The minister understands sensitivity of the matter and has expressed concerns over any potential ill-effects such a measure can have on the health of individuals or the public’s perception on safety,” the source added.
The issue of radiation from telecom towers, even at existing levels, has always been a very sensitive one, with several litigations being filed in courts by RWAs, environmentalists and pressure groups against installation of towers in their neighbourhood. There have been scores of instances across the country where such petitions – or protests by residents – have seen companies take down the towers from key locations, often leading to poor services.
Industry body COAI, however, claims that ICNIRP radiation levels have been approved by the WHO and the International Telecommunication Union. “Both these organisations recommend the human exposure guidelines developed by ICNIRP. The ICNIRP guidelines are designed to provide protection to all people (including children) against all established health hazards. There is a need for aligning our norms with internationally accepted threshold levels suggested as per WHO recommended latest ICNIR guidelines,” COAI director-general Lt Gen (retd) S P Kochhar told TOI.
“If EMF norms are not revised, it will severely harm consumer experience and expectations from 5G in India. This will adversely deteriorate 5G experience by leading to slower net speed, lower network quality and inferior signal strength. In addition, this will impact potential aspects to enhance the wireless infrastructure and deployment of 5G,” Kochhar added while claiming that ICNIRP norms have already been adopted in countries such as the UK, UAE, Australia, Ireland, Egypt, Uganda, and Saudi Arabia. COAI has also sent a proposal in this regard to telecom secretary Neeraj Mittal.
WHO didn’t respond to questions on the issue.
Interestingly, even before the current recommendations, govt has previously made a case for ICNIRP norms and vouched for its safety, citing WHO studies. In an statement released by communications ministry on Aug 5, 2022, govt had stated in Rajya Sabha that “International EMF Project of WHO has published an information sheet in 2005 on effect of EMF emissions on animals, insects, vegetation and aquatic life and has concluded that the exposure limits in the ICNIRP guidelines for protection of human health are also protective of the environment”.
While talking about Indian levels being one-tenth of ICNIRP norms, the 2022 RS statement had said that EMF emissions from mobile towers are “non-ionizing radio frequencies having very minuscule power and are incapable of causing any adverse environmental impact.”
Govt has mandated strict EMF radiation norms for tower companies, who also run the risk of penalties and even shutdowns in case they are found crossing the prescribed norms. The citizens, or those concerned about radiation, can also get EMF emissions from a particular tower tested by paying a fee of Rs 4,000.
The latest committee report said to “regain trust” after increasing the EMF emissions, the govt should “significantly lower” the testing fees from Rs 4,000, apart from carrying out public awareness programmes around safety.
“Existing EMF compliance regime shall be strengthened. Resources for ensuring compliance with EMF radiations shall be increased in terms of manpower,” it says.
“The revision of EMF norms could lead to heightened public mistrust due to the negative health effects of EMF radiation,” it said, recommending a series of advocacy efforts and heightened testing of towers at cheaper costs to allay public fears.
Mindful of public concerns and a series of court petitions regarding radiation from telecom towers, India earlier capped it at one-tenth of the ICNIRP levels, against which companies had protested, arguing that reduced EMF emissions meant poor coverage and more towers.
A source said the matter had reached the level of new communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was keen to understand the recommendations and its implications. “The minister understands sensitivity of the matter and has expressed concerns over any potential ill-effects such a measure can have on the health of individuals or the public’s perception on safety,” the source added.
The issue of radiation from telecom towers, even at existing levels, has always been a very sensitive one, with several litigations being filed in courts by RWAs, environmentalists and pressure groups against installation of towers in their neighbourhood. There have been scores of instances across the country where such petitions – or protests by residents – have seen companies take down the towers from key locations, often leading to poor services.
Industry body COAI, however, claims that ICNIRP radiation levels have been approved by the WHO and the International Telecommunication Union. “Both these organisations recommend the human exposure guidelines developed by ICNIRP. The ICNIRP guidelines are designed to provide protection to all people (including children) against all established health hazards. There is a need for aligning our norms with internationally accepted threshold levels suggested as per WHO recommended latest ICNIR guidelines,” COAI director-general Lt Gen (retd) S P Kochhar told TOI.
“If EMF norms are not revised, it will severely harm consumer experience and expectations from 5G in India. This will adversely deteriorate 5G experience by leading to slower net speed, lower network quality and inferior signal strength. In addition, this will impact potential aspects to enhance the wireless infrastructure and deployment of 5G,” Kochhar added while claiming that ICNIRP norms have already been adopted in countries such as the UK, UAE, Australia, Ireland, Egypt, Uganda, and Saudi Arabia. COAI has also sent a proposal in this regard to telecom secretary Neeraj Mittal.
WHO didn’t respond to questions on the issue.
Interestingly, even before the current recommendations, govt has previously made a case for ICNIRP norms and vouched for its safety, citing WHO studies. In an statement released by communications ministry on Aug 5, 2022, govt had stated in Rajya Sabha that “International EMF Project of WHO has published an information sheet in 2005 on effect of EMF emissions on animals, insects, vegetation and aquatic life and has concluded that the exposure limits in the ICNIRP guidelines for protection of human health are also protective of the environment”.
While talking about Indian levels being one-tenth of ICNIRP norms, the 2022 RS statement had said that EMF emissions from mobile towers are “non-ionizing radio frequencies having very minuscule power and are incapable of causing any adverse environmental impact.”
Govt has mandated strict EMF radiation norms for tower companies, who also run the risk of penalties and even shutdowns in case they are found crossing the prescribed norms. The citizens, or those concerned about radiation, can also get EMF emissions from a particular tower tested by paying a fee of Rs 4,000.
The latest committee report said to “regain trust” after increasing the EMF emissions, the govt should “significantly lower” the testing fees from Rs 4,000, apart from carrying out public awareness programmes around safety.
“Existing EMF compliance regime shall be strengthened. Resources for ensuring compliance with EMF radiations shall be increased in terms of manpower,” it says.