By IANS,
New Delh : As many as 130,728 telecom towers are yet to comply with the self certification norms on possible health-related effects of electromagnetic emissions even after six-month extension of deadline, Minister of State for Communications Sachin Pilot said Friday.
“All telecom companies face a penalty of Rs.5 lakh for each noncompliant base station,” Pilot warned, referring to the norms adopted in India based on the standards set by the International Commission for Nonionizing Radiation Protection.
“The government, concerned with possible health related effects of radiation from mobile handsets and towers, has been examining the issue in detail with a view to adopting the guidelines in the best interest of the health of people of India,” said the minister.
“However, till the time that new guidelines are implemented it is mandatory for telecom providers to adhere to the prescribed guidelines, and any non-compliance would be dealt with in terms of prescribed penalties.”
As on Dec 30 last year, Indian telecom companies had set up 562,174 base transceiver stations mounted on towers for mobile communications.
The government’s norms followed concerns raised by civil society, research organizations, and members of parliament on the possible health-related effects of electromagnetic emissions from mobile towers.
Accordingly, the industry was required to self-certify each of their towers May 15 and submit the same to the Telecom Engineering and Resource Monitoring Cells of the Department of Telecommunications.
On the request of industry, the deadline was then extended to Nov 15.