HC seeks report on mobile towers

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, June 22: The Gauhati High Court has sought a report from telecom operators on installation of mobile towers in Guwahati.

The court has sought details of the spots where mobile towers have been installed, the safety guidelines adhered to by the companies and measures to curb the effects of radiation, senior advocate Bhaskar Dev Konwar, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner, said.

The service providers have been asked to submit their reports to the court when it reopens after the summer vacation.

The bench of Chief Justice (acting) K Shreedhar Rao and Justice PK Saikia has also sought separate reports from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) on the mobile towers and what guidelines were followed while issuing permissions to them.

Recently, the Kamrup metropolitan administration had said complaints have been received against some mobile towers. “There are complaints that some towers, especially those set up on roof of buildings, have some problems …like bends etc. We are conducting an inspection of the towers to verify if safety norms were followed by the tower operators. Action will be taken in case of violations,” an administration official had said.

The mobile operators have been alleging that in Guwahati, a tussle between the GMDA and GMC has posed hurdles in setting up towers.

Sources said only about 50 towers in the city have proper permission. Others were erected after merely applying for permission.

Allaying fears about mobile towers emitting radiation, telecom service operators have been insisting that their safety norms were strict and the key infrastructure (telecom towers) is “harmless”.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Shripad ik has also told the Rajya Sabha recently that fears of mobile towers being hazardous to health have no scientific basis.

“The Indian Council of Medical Research, the apex body in India for the formulation, coordition and promotion of biomedical research, clarified that there is no scientific evidence indicating mental or physical disease due to use of mobile phones,” ik had said.