BENGALURU: The Supreme Court’s directive to shut down a BSNL mobile phone tower in Gwalior-based on a cancer patient’s plea that the radiation from the tower was the cause of his health condition, has come as a setback for the telecom sector.Considering the plea by Harish Chand Tiwari, a 42-year-old cancer patient, the Supreme Court in its interim order on Wednesday directed that the tower be shut down. The order has stirred up a hornet’s nest with industry representatives claiming there isn’t enough scientific evidence to back claims about the radiation being hazardous.
‘It’s non-ionising radiation’
The potential effects of mobile radiation have been a bone of contention between activists and the telecom sector for a long time. However, this is the first time that the Supreme Court has taken the current approach, pointed out Mahesh Uppal, industry expert. Even though this is a setback, it is unwise to jump to any conclusion on the impact of the order on the industry, he said. Uppal opined that the Supreme Court is not the best judge of the issue and one needs to rely on analysis by competent professionals in the field.
“The truth is that energy of the radiation from the tower is not sufficient to break chemical bond; it is non-ionising radiation. However, given the current scale of usage of mobile devices, it makes sense to keep this under review.”On the other hand, the SC interim order comes as a welcome move for activists who have been fighting the cause.
The potential effects of mobile radiation have been a bone of contention between activists and the telecom sector for a long time. However, this is the first time that the Supreme Court has taken the current approach, pointed out Mahesh Uppal, industry expert. Even though this is a setback, it is unwise to jump to any conclusion on the impact of the order on the industry, he said. Uppal opined that the Supreme Court is not the best judge of the issue and one needs to rely on analysis by competent professionals in the field.
“The truth is that energy of the radiation from the tower is not sufficient to break chemical bond; it is non-ionising radiation. However, given the current scale of usage of mobile devices, it makes sense to keep this under review.”On the other hand, the SC interim order comes as a welcome move for activists who have been fighting the cause.
It is a fact that health hazards are caused because of the radiation emitted from telecom towers. Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from his statement on May 31, 2013, where he had said, “Microwaves and radiation through mobile towers proved killers to birds and creatures,” Mumbai-based activist Prakash Munshi asked why the government was not willing to accept that the radiation could harm humans.
“India wants to reach digital highway even at the cost of citizens. I shudder to think what would happen ten years later where they would be an epidemic of health hazards,” he said, adding that the challenge of convincing people still remained as the industry would go for an appeal.
“India wants to reach digital highway even at the cost of citizens. I shudder to think what would happen ten years later where they would be an epidemic of health hazards,” he said, adding that the challenge of convincing people still remained as the industry would go for an appeal.
‘It’s an interim order only’
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has issued a statement saying that for the telecom industry, consumers’ interest is paramount. “The industry appeals to the public not to panic and read the interim order in its entirety. There are four EMF-related cases, which have been clubbed together. The interim SC order relates to only one of them whereas other cases were left untouched. Meanwhile, eight high courts which have found that the radiation emanating from mobile towers are not hazardous for human health. As a precaution, DoT has already maintained emission limits at 1/10th of the recommended ICNIRP global standards for India,” said Rajan S Mathews, director-general, COAI.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has issued a statement saying that for the telecom industry, consumers’ interest is paramount. “The industry appeals to the public not to panic and read the interim order in its entirety. There are four EMF-related cases, which have been clubbed together. The interim SC order relates to only one of them whereas other cases were left untouched. Meanwhile, eight high courts which have found that the radiation emanating from mobile towers are not hazardous for human health. As a precaution, DoT has already maintained emission limits at 1/10th of the recommended ICNIRP global standards for India,” said Rajan S Mathews, director-general, COAI.
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