Union minister for communication and information technology Kapil Sibal comes forward in support of the telecom industry and has told Rajasthan government about the negative impacts of removing cell phone towers in the state.
In his communique to the chief minister Ashok Gehlot in the last week of November, Sibal expressed his fear that compliance of high court orders could hit the critical communication requirement in the state. Sibal said communication is vital for law and order in the state.
Citing an example, the Union minister said connectivity is essential for patients to reach the doctor. In the absence of network, it will become difficult to connect each other during emergency.
On November 27, Rajasthan high court ordered relocation of mobile towers from educational institutions, hospitals and playgrounds in the state within two months. It further ruled that they should be shifted at least 500m away from jails and 100m from monuments.
The Union minister maintained that there are “no established studies that conclusively prove the ill-effect of mobile tower radiation on the health of the human body”. The minister also claimed that mobile towers were radiating well within prescribed limits.
The officials at Chief Minister Office refused to comment on the communication between the chief minister and the Union minister, but sources confirmed that state government is in constant touch with the Centre on the issue.
In response to the HC orders, telecom companies are now looking for other alternatives to safeguard their interests. “We have just received the copy of orders on Friday. Internal discussions are going on within the stake holders and we have kept all our options open,” said Sudipto Chaudhary, a representative of the Cellular Operators’ Association of India.
Earlier in June 2012, the Union department of telecommunication (DoT) has made it clear to the Rajasthan government that the emission level from the mobile towers in Jaipur is well within the limit. DoT added that that the emissions pose no threat to human life. This communication was made after a Central team visited and conducted a study in the state capital.
src: TOI