Awareness Programme on EMF by Department of Telecommunication (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Govt of India

An awareness programme was organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Govt of India  on Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) Emissions and Mobile Towers. This is a part of a nationwide public outreach campaign to dispel myths about EMF Emissions and quell unfounded fears of citizens through scientific evidence. Mr. Vineet Mathur, Deputy Director General, TERM (Telecom Enforcement, Resource & Monitoring) Cell, Assam, DoT delivered the inaugural address through a detailed scientific presentation and highlighted the importance of mobile connectivity across the state and emphasized on the need of cultivating a scientific temper and deepening collaboration between the public, Government and industry for growth and progress of Assam.  The DoT has already prescribed strict 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”, Mr. Mathur added. Mr. Mathur also 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.” Mr. Mathur, DDG, TERM, Assam also 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.”

Delivering the welcome address, Shri Santosh Kumar Singh, Director, TERM Cell Assam, DoT said, that there is no scientific evidence backing the claim that EMF radiation from mobile towers, which are well within the safe limits prescribed by the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Speaking on the occasion as a Chief Guest, Mr. Virendra Mittal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat, Assam has appreciated the initiative undertaken by TERM Cell, Assam, DOT in creating awareness at District level. He assured to extend all possible help and to spread such awareness through his district team to disseminate the awareness that EMF radiation from Mobile towers is not harmful to human health etc. The Dy Commissioner also shared his happiness that India is following is more stringent norms than the norms prescribed by WHO. The misconception with our population in villages & Towns on EMF emission is wrong and installation of towers should be allowed in their respective locality for availing better connectivity to reap the benefits of Digital transitions.

Dr. T K Joshi, Advisor, Ministry of Health, Govt of India and Dr. A K Barooah, Director, Tea Research Association, Tocklai, Jorhat also graced the occasion as the Speakers of this programme. Alongwith with other senior officers from Tea Board, Tea Research Association, Tocklai, Jorhat and other the Central Government; State Govt. representatives of Assam, 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.  Dr. T K Joshi made a detailed presentation from health perspective and research developments/ outcomes and clarified many concerns & negated the myths about EMF.

Dr T K Joshi also 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. He also shared several Hon’ble High Court Judgements negating the radiation health hazards.

The first session concluded with an interactive Q&A session between the experts panel & audience.

In the next session actual site testing was carried out to measure electromagnetic frequency (EMF) emissions from mobile towers in Jorhat. It was found that the mobile towers in Jorhat  were transmitting well within permissible limits and, in fact, in most cases much lower than the prescribed limits in India. The testing was conducted for BTSs at Jorhat and the results were shared with the people present at the sites, stating that all towers are safe, substantiated by the low levels of radiation that showed up in the tests.

In fact, the average radiation from towers monitored in 3 (three) locations was 0.8846% of the limits set by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), well within the prescribed limits. The level of emission at_Bhogdoi (Near Bhogdoi Bridge) was 0.007943 watts per meter square. The next locations tested were_Kenduguri and Carmel School, Chinnamara which also had readings of 0.002959 watts per meter square and 0.001042 watts per Meter Square.

 

Location	Radiation Level	Prescribed Limit	Actual Reading as %age of Prescribed Limit
Bhogdoi (Near Bhogdoi Bridge)	0.007943 watts per meter square	0.45 watts per meter square	1.765%
Kenduguri	0.002959 watts per meter square	0.45 watts per meter square	0.6575%
Carmel School, Chinnamara	0.001042 watts per Meter Square	0.45 watts per meter square	0.2315%
AVERAGE			0.8846%

 

Both the sessions were modulated by Mr. Madan Lal, Director, TERM Cell, Assam, DoT.