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12 February 2023

India: 320 mobile towers found exceeding prescribed EMF radiation limits as on Dec 2022: MoS Telecom

Comment from Dr. Joel Moscowitz, University of California, Berkeley:

India systematically monitors cell tower radiation to ensure compliance with radio frequency exposure limits; however, in the US no agency does this. The FCC, which is captured by industry, responds to complaints about electromagnetic interference but does not systematically monitor cell tower compliance with FCC regulations. The cost of a comprehensive monitoring system would likely be covered by the fines assessed to industry for noncompliance. Moreover, workers and the public would be better protected from intense exposure to cell tower radiation."

Our summary of article: "As on 31.12.2022, Licensed Service Area (LSA) field units of DoT have tested 11.6 lakh [1.16 million] Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) across the country to check the compliance to prescribed Electromagnetic Field (EMF) radiation norms, out of which a total of 320 BTSs were found exceeding the prescribed EMF limits." Penalties of Rs 13.10 crore ($131 million) have been recovered from defaulting telcom service providers for exceeding the prescribed EMF limits, Minister of State for Communications said.

320 mobile towers found exceeding prescribed EMF radiation limits as on Dec 2022: MoS Telecom

The Economic Times, Feb 10, 2023

Photo caption: Devusinh Chauhan said 320 mobile towers found exceed prescribed EMF radiation


Telecom Department field units have tested as many as 11.6 lakh BTSs across the country for compliance to stipulated EMF radiation norms as on December 2022, of which 320 were found exceeding prescribed limits, Parliament was informed on Friday. As on December 31, 2022, penalties of Rs 13.10 crore have been recovered from defaulting telcom service providers for exceeding the prescribed EMF limits, Minister of State for Communications, Devusinh Chauhan said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

"As on 31.12.2022, Licensed Service Area (LSA) field units of DoT have tested 11,61,281 number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) across the country to check the compliance to prescribed Electromagnetic Field (EMF) radiation norms, out of which a total of 320 BTSs were found exceeding the prescribed EMF limits," Chauhan said.

The amount collected through penalties is credited to the Consolidated Fund of India. Expenditures of the government are incurred from the 'Consolidated Fund of India' following the procedure laid down.

"The government has put in place a well-structured process and mechanism for monitoring any violation, so that Telecom Service Providers adhere to the prescribed norms including submission of self-certificate before commercial start of BTSs," Chauhan said.

The field units of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) regularly carry out the EMF audit up to 5 per cent BTS Sites annually on a random basis.

DoT also imposes financial penalties on operators whose towers are found exceeding the prescribed EMF emission limits.

To a question, the Minister said the number of mobile towers installed in Belagavi district of Karnataka as on January 2023 stood at 2,811.

https://m.economictimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/320-mobile-towers-found-exceeding-prescribed-emf-radiation-limits-as-on-dec-2022-mos-telecom/articleshow/97801881.cms



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