Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said he is open to making changes in the mobile tower radiation norms based on objective analysis, supported by verifiable evidence.
"We have got very strict guidelines, including hefty penalties and standards. We follow that. But I am quite open if some more issues come in public domain which require some more corrective measure to be taken. I am very open for that," Prasad said at an Assocham event.
"But need for corrective course must come upon objective material. Competitive campaign from one side and the other side must be put to rest because as a minister...I see my role more as an arbitrator. Guide me, suggest to me based on empirical data," he said.
Prasad said there is a need to increase information in public domain and some information in public domain have no empirical evidence.
"I see a lot of campaign. May be genuine, may be sponsored. I can't say. I think no one can say. If on one hand there is consistent report of WHO (World Health Organisation) that there is no empirical evidence, why it is not being accepted. We must have adequate information in public domains as to what the issue is about," Prasad said.
Telecom industry players have frequently raised issue that residents and activists in many part of the country oppose installation of mobile towers due to reports of health hazard from them which is impacting mobile connectivity.
As per DoT guidelines, if a mobile tower has 1 antenna, it should be installed at minimum distance of 20 metres from a house, in case of 2 antennas minimum distance should be 35 metres, for 4 antennas it should be 45 metres and for 6 antennas the minimum distance should be 55 metres.
The guidelines say that there should be no building parallel to antenna and height of the antenna should be at least 5 metres above ground or roof top level.
Meanwhile, All India Institute of Medical Sciences' Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery Vivek Tandon said that people come to him holding mobile tower responsible for health problems but he has been unable to find evidence of their claim.
Prasad said that environmental conservation is very important but in the quest for conserving environment "you cannot jettison development".
"If the need for concerns of health is articulated in a manner that connectivity itself comes under doubt or is questioned, then it is a very serious issue," he said.
