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Environment dept concerned about mobile phone towers
India Created: 28 May 2008
The principal secretary of the state environment department Mr ML Meena has urged local authorities to follow the guidelines before giving permission for installation of mobile phone towers on residential buildings, schools, hostels and hospitals in the districts.
The department had issued the order on 24 April 2008 and its copy was forwarded to all concerned including cell phone service providers, district magistrates, municipalities, zilla parishads and panchayets for information under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
The principal secretary Mr Meena pointed out in the copy that the principal secretary, Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi has already issued a circular in respect of guidelines for installation of the mobile towers.
According to the order copy, the state environment department has received a number of complaints regarding indiscriminate installation of mobile towers in residential and school buildings and hospitals, which have a harmful electro- magnetic radiation.
One of the strict guidelines is to avoid installation of Base Station Antennas within the premises of schools and hospitals because children and patients are more susceptible to Electro-magnetic Field.
The department has directed to avoid installation of BSA in narrow lanes in order to reduce risk caused by any earthquake or wind related disaster. It has been strictly mentioned that BSA should be at least 3 metres away from the nearby building and antennas should not directly face the building.
The environment department has suggested that in case of multiple transmitter sites at a specific locality, sharing of a common tower infrastructure should be explored as far as possible.
There must be ‘warning signs’ in the prohibited zone, where BSA has been installed, for common public entry containing the text: ‘Danger! RF radiations... Do not enter!
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Source: The Statesman, 27 May 2008

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