Awareness Programme on Electromagnetic Field Emissions and Mobile Towers Conducted

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
An awareness programme was organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Min. of Communications on Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Emissions and Mobile Towers.
This is part of a nationwide public outreach campaign to dispel myths about EMF Emissions and quell unfounded fears of citizens through scientific evidence. Sunitha C ITS, Deputy Director General (Telecom Eforcement, Resource &  Monitoring Cell), Kerala delivered the inaugural address and highlighting the importance of mobile connectivity across the state and emphasizing on the need of cultivating a scientific temper and deepening collaboration between the public, Government and industry for growth and progress of Kerala.
S Venkateshpathi, The District Collector, Trivandrum, Dr. Chandramohan K, Additional Professor of Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre Trivandrum, P. Satisan, Advocate, High Court Of Kerala and KC Joseph, Retired Additional Director of Panchayat graced the occasion as the Speakers of this programme. Senior officers from the Central Government, State of Kerala, 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.
Delivering the welcome address, T Sreenivasan, Director (TERM-DoT), Kerala ,said, that there is no scientific evidence backing the claim that EMF radiation from mobile towers, which are below the safe limits prescribed by the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), can cause adverse health effects.
The DoT has already prescribed strict precautionary 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”,  Sunitha C ITS added. S Venkateshpathi, The District Collector, Trivandrum told “The misconception with our population in  villages on EMF emission is wrong and installation of towers should be allowed in their respective locality”.
Sunitha C, ITS, DDG TERM, Kerala 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.”
P. Satisan, Advocate, High Court Of Kerala has appreciated the initiative undertaken by TERM Cell, Kerala in creating awareness at District level. He also shared his happiness that India is following is more stringent norms than the norms prescribed by WHO. “I assure you to extend all possible help and to spread such awareness that EMF radiation from Mobile towers is not harmful to human health etc.,” he stated.
Dr. Dr. Chandramohan K , Additional Professor of Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre Trivandrum, 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.
Sunitha C, ITS, Deputy Director General (Telecom Enforcement, Resource & Monitoring Cell), Kerala, 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.”
The first session concluded with an interactive Q& A session between senior government officials, Councillors of Kerala, participants from civil society and RWAs. In the next session actual site testing was carried out to measure electromagnetic frequency (EMF) emissions from mobile towers in Kerala.