Economic
Times: New Delhi: Monday, 06 April 2015.
Health
Ministry is unaware of a WHO report which says radiations emanating from mobile
towers can "possibly cause cancer", the Central Information
Commission has noted in its order while asking it to explain measures taken to
inform people of its harmful effects.
The
Commission had sought a compliance report from Environment Ministry, Health
Ministry, Telecom Ministry, DDA and other stakeholders on the issue of growing
number of mobile towers in the city and their impact on the health of citizens.
It had also sought to know why mobile radiations are not declared as air
pollutants.
During the
hearing as a follow up of the notice, Central Pollution Control Board submitted
a detailed note saying Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) has not been declared as
air pollutants but it is better not not to install cell phone towers near
hospitals, schools, residential colonies etc.as they are somewhat hazardous to
the health of the people living in the surrounding.
The note
mentioned that nuclear radiations and X rays have capacity to break chemical
bond of DNA and can lead to mutation of cells DNA and cancer, but RFR are not
strong enough to break chemical bond and is thus not harmful.
Disputing it,
the appellant Surech Chandra Gupta said large number of studies from different
parts of globe indicated harmful impact of RFR and WHO categorised RFR as
possible carcinogenic.
"It may
be noted that WHO (in May 2011) could also have declared RFR as 'carcinogenic'
or 'not carcinogenic', but WHO has declared it as possible carcinogenic,"
he submitted.
During the
hearing before Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu, Gupta produced an
RTI reply from the Health Ministry saying it was not aware of WHO notification
and no other action like conducting study, has been initiated by it.
He said
according to The Air (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1981 and
Environment (Protection) Act 1986, "air pollutant" means "any
solid, liquid or gaseous substance (including noise) present in the atmosphere
in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to human beings or
other living creatures or plants or property or environment".
Gupta said
nature of RFR is similar to noise and other air pollutants and RFR has harmful
effect on human beings and living creatures.
"Report
of Inter-Ministerial Committee, 2010 has clearly brought out that presence of
RF radiation tend to be injurious to human beings and other living creatures
like bees, birds etc. The extent of harmful effect will depend upon the
exposure level and duration of exposure," he claimed.
On the basis
of Inter Ministerial Committee report 2010, Gupta said human and other living
creatures are exposed to many types of radiations (including radiations from
Sun etc.) and human body has natural capability to repair damage to its cells.
"When
extent of damage to cells exceeds the repair capacity, the cells mutate and may
lead to cancer.RFR is like a slow poison and may cause cancer in few years or
few decades depending upon extent of exposure and its duration.In view of this,
it is necessary to adopt precautionary approach," he claimed.
Gupta also
questioned the role of Telecom Engineering Centre which had also claimed that
it was not aware of the WHO report declaring RFR as possible carcinogen.
"In the
Inter Ministerial Expert Committee out of eight members, five members were from
DoT, including DDG (R) from TEC. This report deliberates about number of
international reports on harmful effects of RF radiations. The committee
meetings were held in second half of 2010 and report may have been submitted in
2010 end or 2011," Gupta submitted.
He said WHO
notification declaring RF radiations as possible carcinogenic was released on
May 31, 2011.
"Representative
of DoT was member of the Expert Committee which prepared report on the Possible
impacts of Communication Towers on Wildlife including Birds and Bees.
"In this
report WHO notification was also deliberated. TEC provided false reply in 2013
that it is not aware about WHO notification of 2011 and its complete silence in
its internal approval notes on harmful effects of RFR is also surprising,"
he said.
Taking note
of the submissions made by Gupta, Acharyulu directed the Environment Ministry
and Health Ministry to explain what measures they are taking up to educate
people on these harmful effects.
He also
directed the Telecom Ministry to explain what measures they have taken to
reduce the harm of radiation from Cell Phone Towers.
Taking a
stern action against DDA, Acharyulu issued a show cause notice as to why
maximum penalty should not be imposed against it for not implementing its
orders going ahead with another public notification inviting tenders for
unrestricted installation of Cell Phone Towers in Delhi.
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