MUMBAI: Data of radiation checks being conducted by the government following citizens' complaints suggest that nearly 70% complaints were prima facie false. If so many radiation complaints are false, why the fuss, ask experts, who also question the genuineness of the checks. They say such checks do not involve them as well as citizens but only officials attached to government agencies.

Achintya Mukherjee of the Bombay Telephone Users' Association said there should be more involvement of experts and citizens in committees or teams monitoring radiation levels. "The controversy is about wattage of antennae. If the teams involve experts and activists, they will not only be able to establish the genuineness of the exercise but will restore confidence among citizens who are already scared about the towers," he said.

IIT professor Girish Kumar said initially very few cell towers of the over 200 checked were found violating the 450 milliwatt per square radiation level. "But this limit itself is wrong as internationally antennae are not allowed to cross the level of minimum 1 to maximum 10 milliwatts.

DoT advisor (technology) R K Bhatnagar said the Government of India's highprofile telecommunication research arm, Telecommunication Consultants India Ltd (TCIL), was conducting checks as per citizens' complaints. "They do not involve any operator in the checks and randomly conduct a drive to catch towers and companies unawares. TCIL has dedicated experts and researchers who have no vested interests and till the time DoT acquires its own checking equipment, TCIL is the best institution for the job," he pointed out.

COAI director-general Rajan Mathew said experts from internationally reputed agencies are involved in tower building, testing and installation. "The radiation measuring equipment is being bought but at present TCIL, the government's own arm, is doing the work very diligently, sensitively and responsibly ," he said, pointing out that country had adopted the best radiation norms in the industry.

Dr K S Parthasarathy, former secretary, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, said minister of state for communications and information technology Milind Deora should publish results of measurements done so far. "Transparency is the best antidote against scare-mongering . A recent media report said radiation levels at 60 places were within DoT limits . Mumbaikars are not, after all, living in the equivalent of vast open-air microwave ovens as described," he said.

How to get your complaints addressed

Cell tower radiation complaints can be registered at www.dot.gov. in through the link 'Public grievance - EMF radiation' A DoT team will visit your society, for which 4,000 will be charged If radiation levels higher than the prescribed limit are detected, the company owning the tower will have to pay the fee and also a 5 lakh fine Citizens can also call 9969555000 to register complaints The complaint will be attended to within 10 days of payment of the fee There will be 5 monitoring units for city

Landline is preferable

Do not use a cellphone for more than six minutes a day Radiation from computers and laptops is less than that from cellphones The safest way to conduct long-distance communication is through a landline. To the fullest extent possible, forward calls received on your cellphone to your residential or office landlines

After receiving a call on or putting one through a cellphone, put the device on speakerphone mode and keep it at least a foot away from your body. Better use a headset Never press the handset against your face or head Limit the length of calls and prefer an SMS. Keep wi-fi off if not in use If you live in a highrise within a km of a TV tower or 500 metres of an FM tower, to absorb radiation, plant trees on the building's premises

What government has threatened 

Rectify radiation levels of noncompliant (over 200) antennae on 61 cell towers within 30 days If not, pay a fine of 5 lakh for each tower and they will be removed. If towers are found to be continuingly flouting norms, a process to cancel the company's licence can be started

Violations by cell phone operators in the city

As per government norms, no cell tower should radiate more than 450 milliwatt per square metre power But, in the city, over 200 antennae (61 cell towers with a minimum three to four antennae on each) belonging to almost all telecom companies (12 major operators in city) have been found crossing radiation levels 400 complaints have been received by DoT about cell towers in the country. Around 320 complainants have paid 4,000 to check each tower. Over 90% complaints are from the city Of the 320, radiation from 271 towers has been tested, of which 81 were found non-compliant with norms

Readers' opinions (11)

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Bandit Moorkhjee (NEW DELHI)
12 Dec, 2012 07:30 PM
Who are these ''experts''. One such ''expert'', often seen on TV campaigning against cell phones, is a Professor in a highly reputed academic institution. He gives outrageous statements that would scare the average person who does not have a scientific education. Fact of the matter is that the so-called ''radiation'' from cell phones and their towers is of the same kind that is used in AM and FM radio, TV, cordless telephones, internet devices like wi-fi, and so on. Almost any electrical appliance -- like your kitchen blender or refrigerator -- will also emit similar electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, the ''experts'' who are campaigning against cell phones should also ask the government to ban radio, TV, telephones, and all these home appliances. Another fact of the matter is that the daughter of the ''expert'' Professor I mentioned above has a company selling products claimed to protect people from the allegedly dangerous cell phone radiation.

Rawk Aron (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
12 Dec, 2012 05:28 PM
why should one pay to report a compliant and have it inspected? Isn't it the regulator's responsibility to ensure compliance? this is like having to pay the police for reporting a crime or accident in the neighborhood!

suresh190149 (mumbai)
12 Dec, 2012 05:06 PM
There seem to be a lot of controversy about the radiations of the Cell Tower. The awareness of radiation excites people to complain to the Authority and we have advises of various kinds for people to adhere. We would be better off with a hand held device that shows the radiation on the spot like a Speed monitor for Car speed on Highways used by the Police,which will monitor the radiation. We hope that work can be done on these lines to simplify the regulation of Radiation which has harmful effects for the human beings.

Dinesh Prabhakar (delhi)
12 Dec, 2012 04:34 PM
several people have died due to radiation worldwide from such towers, urgent action needed in this direction!

Venkat (Chennai)
12 Dec, 2012 04:26 PM
It;s serious issue. The authorities concerned to look into this issue & set right things in the interest of general public

Norms go for a toss in city - TOI - 13-12-2012

Norms go for a toss in city

Chittaranjan Tembhekar | TNN

Mumbai: Within the telecom industry there are instructions to cell tower maintenance wings and agencies that there should not be more than two to three antennae on a cell tower and no two antennae should face the same direction.But it seems these instructions are being overruled in the city,with minimum 50% towers bearing more than three antennae and some facing the same direction.
As per another directive to engineers involved in cell tower installation,no building should exist horizontally or laterally within a 100-metre periphery of the antenna as laterally radiation is stronger and can cause heavy damage to the human body than vertical or slanting radiation.Telecom industry sources said with the 450 milliwatt per sq power allotted for each tower,it can now have only three antennae with 150 milliwatt each.But there are over 50% towers which are close to such buildings.
According to IIT professor Girish Kumar even the limit of 450 milliwatt per sq radiation level for a cell tower bearing three antennae can be very damaging.He said laterally the building should be minimum 300 metres from an antenna and below the antenna,human existence can be 50 to 100 metres.He expressed concern over the growing number of antennae and their reducing distances from human habitation.
But R K Bhatnagar,advisor to the Department of Telecommunication (DoT),and Rajan Mathew, directorgeneral of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI),said there were no guidelines of three
antennae or a 100-metre periphery within the industry.There can be a maximum 12 antennae on each tower but they should not face in the same direction and should be at a height so that no building comes laterally close.A tower with 12 antennae should be laterally 75 metres away from the buildings, Bhatnagar said.If two to three antennae face in different directions on a tower located at a height,the towers distance from the building can be even 25 metres,he added.
He said it has not been established or proved that the wattage limit such as 450 mw per sq metres for each cell tower was damaging to human health. This month DoT will hold a meeting of doctors,scientists and engineers to form a committee which will decide the line and scope of study of impact of radiation on human health.After a case study,we will be able to decide wattage for each antenna and cell tower and safe distances from human habitations, he said.
According to Dr K S Parthasarathy,former secretary,Atomic Energy Regulatory Board,the government and telecom industry have adopted onetenth of the limit prescribed by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP),whose guidelines are accepted by most nations. DoT threatens action

Telecom operators have been warned to keep radiation from their cell phone towers within the prescribed limit. If the cell tower companies dont rectify the levels,they will be removed after a month as per legal procedure.The department can also cancel the operators licences if complaints grow and theres no rectification, a DoT official said.

Union minister of state for communications and IT Milind Deora said checks and action against faulty towers were being undertaken across the country to ensure safe surroundings for citizens.The ministry cares for consumers first and hence prescribed the safest radiation levels, he said,pointing out that even the operators were cooperating with the ministry and that was why faulty towers were substantially few.

Mumbai has 12 cellular operators with over 23,800 towers spread across Mumbai region.DoT has received over 400 complaints about the towers from across the country till date,with over 90% of them from the Mumbai region.

Around 320 complainants have paid Rs 4,000 to get each tower checked;271 towers have been tested, a DoT official said.Of the 271 checked,81 have been found to be non-compliant with radiation norms.Of these,61 are located across Mumbai region (Mumbai,Thane,Navi Mumbai,Kalyan-Dombivli ),a matter of concern for Mumbaikars.If you go by an average minimum of three to four antennae per tower,the number of defaulting antennae comes to over 200, the official said.

The Rajasthan high court recently ruled that all cell tower antennae close to schools,colleges,hospitals,jails and playgrounds should be relocated and should not exist within a 500-metre periphery of human existence.It said children,patients and inmates were more vulnerable to radiation. The threat of antennae,activists said,was more in Mumbai due to densely located highrises that have towers atop them.

http://www.punemirror.in//index.aspx?page=article&sectid=2&contentid=20121213201212130847121869e264f31

PMC cuts power to four mobile towers

Residents of Al Ameen Co-operative Housing Society in Gultekdi wanted illegal towers dismantled, as they were posing a risk to their health

By Siddharth Gadkari

Posted On Thursday, December 13, 2012     

One of the towers built on the premises of Al Ameen Co-operative Housing Society

In a major crackdown on illegal mobile towers, the building permission 
department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) disconnected power 
supply to four towers set up on the premises of Al Ameen Co-operative 
Housing Society in Gultekdi.

The society members had demanded the towers, that were erected four 
years ago on the row houses, be dismantled as they were posing a risk 
to their health.

An RTI query filed by Dr Arif Memon, a resident of the society, had 
revealed the cellphone companies had not taken the PMC’s permission 
and all the towers were unauthorised.

The members had claimed the radiation emitted by these towers had 
adverse effects on their health, including severe headache, sleep 
disturbance, constant body pain, memory problems and joint pains.

Following strong opposition from the society members, the PMC had 
appointed a third party agency to conduct a survey of illegal mobile 
towers in the city.

The residents had also blamed the chairman of their society for issuing 
a No Objection Certificate to erect the towers.

Rajendra Raut, executive engineer of the building permission department, 
said, “We had sent several notices to the companies to dismantle the 
towers but they did not respond. Finally, we cut the power supply on 
December 1 since we don’t have the expertise to dismount cellphone 
towers. We have also informed the Maharshtra State Electrical Distribution Company (MSEDCL) officials.”

Hailing the civic body’s move,  Memon said, “We pursued the matter 
relentlessly for the last nine months with the civic officials because we 
were concerned about the health of residents, especially children. We 
had requested the PMC to demolish all the towers because they are 
illegal.”

Radiation fears make schools uproot cell phone towers

Radiation fears make schools uproot cell phone towers

DNA / Puja Pednekar / Thursday, September 27, 2012 9:00 IST
After giving sleepless nights to housing societies’ residents, mobile phone towers are now worrying schools.
Concerned about exposing students to “hazardous radiation”, city schools are supporting citizen movements against these towers.
While schools are coaxing neighbouring societies to remove the towers, Swami Vivekananda International School in Kandivli and Gorai has already removed the towers from their premises. The decision was taken by the school’s director Yogesh Patel.
“I began suffering from migraines and, gradually, memory loss. If the radiation had such a powerful effect on me, I can’t imagine the damage on children. So we decided to remove the towers from the school building,” he said.
Rohan Bhat, chairperson of the Children’s Academy Group of Institutions, said, “Though we have been approached by service providers, we have not allowed mobile phone towers on our school premises. There are no conclusive studies on the ill effects of such towers, but we don’t want to put the children at risk.”
Last month, Activity High School, Peddar Road, joined the citizen’s movement against installation of towers on South Mumbai buildings. Over 300 students, supported by their teachers, launched a signature campaign asking the state to regulate the number of towers in the area. Principal Perin Bagli even measured the EMF radiation level in the nearby lanes. Almost all the lanes around Peddar Road, Carmichael Road and Malabar Hill showed “dangerously high” levels. Bagli said, “There are close to 10 mobile communication towers atop buildings around our school. Many of these can even be seen from our classrooms, putting students in direct line of radiation.”
She added that in awareness sessions by IIT experts, parents were told about dangers of such towers. “They can cause short-term problems, such as fatigue and headaches, and long-term ones, such as cancer, tumours and congenital deformities,” she said.
Rekha Vijaykar, director of Guru Harikrishan High School, Santa Cruz, on the other hand, had a different take on this.
“Mobile phone tower isn’t the only carcinogen. Even exposure to microwaves, sunlight, coffee is carcinogenic. There are many myths surrounding such towers. A certified one is not a danger to students.”
URL of the article: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_radiation-fears-make-schools-uproot-cell-phonetowers_1745798-all Permission to reprint or copy this article or photo must be obtained from
www.dnasyndication.com

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_radiation-fears-make-schools-uproot-cell-phone-towers_1745798

Letter to Monisha Biswas, DDG TERM

Milind Bembalkar
Parijat,Gurukrupa Colony,
Ambejogai Road,
Latur 413 531.(MS)

02.10.12

To,
Monisha Biswas,
DDG TERM 
Mumbai .

Dear Sir,

1. Please give information about Constitution of The Organization,TERM .

2. Please give information about frame work, rules & regulations in which your organization suppose to work .

3. Please give addresses of your offices in Maharashtra State.

4. Suppose I want to check the radiation level of Mobile Tower at Latur (450 Km.from Mumbai)  what shall be your charges and terms & conditions ?

5. If you find radiation level beyond prescribed level, 
    
   A) Will you ask cell tower operators to reduce transmitted power or 

   B) Reduce gain of the amplifier or 

   C) Reduce clusters of tower or

   D) Increase height of the antennas mounted on the towers or

   E) Increase height of the towers 

6. If cell tower operators reduce temporarily transmitted power and then again increase it how & who will monitor the radiation level ?

7. Please give the information about the execution power given to you by the State / Central Govt.  

8. Is your organization responsible for the health hazards due to mobile towers?

9. Will your organization  insist to cell tower operators for issue of indemnity bonds(shall take guarantee of the health ) to the citizens residing below mobile towers ?

Waiting for the reply .

Regards,

Milind Bembalkar
094226 56058

Principals 'study' mobile tower radiation

Shreya Bhandary, TNN Sep 11, 2012, 02.11AM IST

Tags:

• Rekha|
• Principals|
• Mobile tower radiation

MUMBAI: Principals from nearly 35 schools in the western suburbs got together at Podar Education Complex in Santa Cruz on Monday and discussed the effects of radiation from mobile towers. The highlight of the meeting was a talk by an expert on myths about mobile tower radiation. "Mobile tower radiation has always been an issue, especially in case of schools which have a large number of children present. We agreed that we cannot do away with technology.

The talk really helped us," said Rekha Vijaykar, director, Guru Harkrishan High School, Santa Cruz (W).

The discussion took place during the monthly meeting for participants of the Open Forum for Principals (OFP). "We invite people from the corporate sector and the health industry to share their insights on topics that affect principals or schools. Many principals said that mobile tower radiation was a concern and were relieved to know that not all the so-called problems were true," said Girish Dalvi of the Nrityanjali Trust that facilitates OFP.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-11/mumbai/33761762_1_mobile-tower-radiation-principals-santa-cruz

Article dt 8th Sept. ,2012 in Loksatta Paper

Dear ALL,   

Forwarded ,

1 Kindly see below the MARATHI article dt 8th Sept. ,2012 in Loksatta Paper. This may be of General Interest .

The new Rules detailed below have come about after lot of pressure from public and the work of Activists like Prof. Girish Kumar of IIT , Mumbai ; Milind Bembalkar of Latur  of Mobile Towers Grievences Forum, Prof P J Joglekar of Thane  and others. The new standards lay down level of acceptable radiation from Towers to one tenth of what was laid in 2006 ; in response to public apprehension of radiation health hazard .

2    Those interested more can go the link given below to see the Rules as announced by the Deptt. of Telecom . 

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=13980df33c01768c&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3Db33e32022a%26view%3Datt%26th%3D13980df33c01768c%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dsafe%26realattid%3Df_h6kfienf0%26zw&sig=AHIEtbTgXrnXewXaI4QvWi9B2n76ZwnVpQ

  

 3. a.   In my view these are poorly drafted , vague and will lead to difficulties in Implementation . They need to be improved. Those who stay below Tower level --the protection level is not specified . In addtion ,  additional concern is that if health effects are noticeable [ examples available elsewhere ] within
few years at power density of 0.001 Watts/m2 = 1.0 milliWatts/m2, then how 0.92 Watts/m2 = 920 milliWatts/m2 for GSM1800 will protect us?

b    To maintain level below specified by the DoT, min. seperation distance  between two adjoining buildings [ one having a tower ] of 35 meters is specified . How it is practicable in cities like Mumbai etc. ? 

4. Those who are interested to have more detailed information incl. other international studies etc. on Health Hazard from Cell Tower Radiation and from excessive use of Cellphone may contact me on :                                           < amjoshi7@gmail.com > . 

 I have lot of slides show e-mails in this regard , which can be sent. 

5.  Needless to add that there is  No conclusive Recommendation by the WHO on this aspect and WHO also does not deny possibility of Health Hazard. Industry for obvious reasons , want to downplay the issue . 

6. Maharashtra Govt. had circulated  draft rules etc. on Tower installations  in July ,2011 . Comments were sent. Nothing is heard about promulagation of the Rules. The file must have been lost in Mantralaya fire !  

With Best Wishes,

 A.M. JOSHI

=========================================================

मोबाइल टॉवर : नियमावली from 1st Sept. 2012

उदय पाध्ये ,शनिवार ’ ८ सप्टेंबर २०१२ Loksatta Paeper  जनतेच्या आरोग्याला प्राधान्य देत १ सप्टेंबर २०१२ पासून भारत सरकारच्या दूरसंचार विभागाने मोबाइल टॉवर्ससाठी सुधारित मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वेही अमलात आणली आहेत, त्याविषयी.. एरव्ही पर्यावरण शिक्षणासारखा क्लिष्ट विषय प्रा. चौधरी महाविद्यालयात सहज शिकवायचे. अत्यंत कठीण मुद्दे पटवून द्यायचे, पण तेच प्रा. चौधरी त्यांच्या इमारतींमधल्या रहिवाशांना मात्र एक उपद्रवमूल्य असलेला बुद्धिवंत वाटायला लागला होता; तो त्यांच्या त्या भागात होऊ घातलेल्या मोबाइल टॉवरला केलेल्या विरोधामुळे. आपल्या शरीरातील पेशींची वाढ विकृत करणारा सजीवांच्या DNA/RNA च्या रासायनिक संरचनेला हानी पोहोचविणारा, मेंदूच्या रक्तप्रवाहात अडथळे आणून स्मरणशक्ती कमी करून विविध विकार निर्माण करणारा, हृदयाची गती वाढविणारा, प्रजननसंस्था व संपूर्ण केंद्रीय मज्जासंस्थेवर अनिष्ट परिणाम घडवून आणणारा व विविध प्रकारच्या कर्करोगाला आमंत्रण देणारा अत्यंत हानीकारक असा मोबाइल टॉवरमुळे होणारा किरणोत्सार (EMR) टाळण्यासाठी या भागात असा टॉवर होऊ द्यायचा नाही एवढेच त्यांचे म्हणणे. पण कोणीही त्यांच्या बाजूने उभे राहिना. अखेर  त्यांना कोर्टाची पायरी चढावी लागली. मधल्या काळात त्यांनी न्यूझीलंडच्या डॉ. चेरींनी सादर केलेल्या १८८ शास्त्रीय लेखांची जंत्री व Indiastudychannel.com ने यासंबंधीची प्रसृत केलेली माहिती  रहिवाशांना दाखविली; तेव्हा मात्र बऱ्याच जणांचे मतपरिवर्तन झाले. तोपर्यंत कोर्टाचा निर्णय त्यांच्या बाजूने आला व साऱ्यांना कळून चुकले की एकाचा विरोधसुद्धा कंपनीला टॉवर अन्यत्र हलवायला भाग पाडू शकतो. सुमारे २०० फूट उंचीच्या मोबाइल टॉवरमधून निघणाऱ्या रेडिओ लहरी (विद्युत चुंबकीय) या जमिनीशी समांतर जात असल्या तरी त्या काँक्रीट भिंतीनाही भेदून आरपार जाणाऱ्या असल्यामुळे कालांतराने अनेक रोग व व्याधींना जन्म देतात. मोबाइल टॉवर लावताना केलेल्या ड्रिलिंगमुळे इमारत खिळखिळी होते ते वेगळेच. अशा कमकुवत झालेल्या वा जुन्या इमारतींवर बसविलेले हे टॉवर्स अतिवृष्टी, वादळे व भूकंपासारख्या नैसर्गिक आपत्तीत अधिक विनाशाला कारणीभूत होतात. चुकीची वीजजोडणी झाल्यास शॉटसर्किटमुळे आग लागण्याचा धोकाही संभवतो. टॉवरला व त्या वातानुकूलनासाठी भारनियमन असलेल्या भागात लावलेल्या विद्युत जनित्रामुळे (Generator) शहरात आधीच असलेल्या प्रदूषणामध्ये भर पडते ती निराळीच! अशा टॉवरवरून सीडीएमए तंत्रज्ञानासाठी (८९० मेगाहर्ट्झ) हे कमी शक्तीचे विद्युत चुंबकीय प्रक्षेपण होते, पण प्रचलित जी.एस.एम. ३००, १८०० व ३ जीसाठी मोबाइलला आवश्यक असलेल्या (८० ते १०० डी.बी.एस.) एक लाख ते १० लाख जास्त शक्तीच्या प्रक्षेपणाची चांगली रेंज येण्यासाठी आवश्यकता असते. ही प्रक्षेपणाची तीव्रता निश्चितच हानीकारक असते. गॅमा, क्ष-किरण वा अतिनील किरणांपेक्षा फा लहरी कमी धोकादायक असल्याचा काही शास्त्रज्ञ दावा करीत असले तरी अनेकदा टेलिकॉम कंपन्या आंतरराष्ट्रीय पातळीवर International Commission of Non-Iodised Radiation  ने ठरवून दिलेली ६०० मायक्रोव्ॉट क्षमतेची प्रक्षेपणाची पातळी ओलांडून ७६२० पर्यंतच्या क्षमतेचे अत्यंत घातक असलेले प्रक्षेपण करताना आढळलेय! म्हणूनच असे टॉवर्स अजिबात सुरक्षित वा निर्धोक नाहीत. आणि म्हणूनच विदेशात व भारताच्या अनेक राज्यांत या टॉवरच्या उभारणीच्या विरोधात अनेक व्यक्ती, सामाजिक संघटना उभ्या ठाकल्या आहेत. खूप ठिकाणी न्यायालयीन लढे जिंकले गेलेत वा अजून चालूही आहेत. त्यामुळे राज्य, केंद्र सरकार, टेलिकॉम विभाग, पर्यावरण खाते इ.ना त्यासंबंधी निश्चित स्वरूपाच्या अटी, र्निबध व मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वे ठरवून द्यावी लागली व गरजेनुसार त्यात वेळोवेळी बदलही होत असतात. आपल्याकडेही याबद्दलची बऱ्यापैकी जागरूकता आली असली तरी अनेक ठिकाणी एकाकी लढे लढले जातायत, हे चित्र मात्र बरे नाही. यासाठी सामुदायिक प्रयत्न होणे आपल्या सर्वाच्या आरोग्याच्या दृष्टीने अत्यंत निकडीचे आहे. भारताच्या इतर राज्यांत म्हणजेच दिल्ली, हरयाणा, हिमाचल प्रदेश व आंध्र प्रदेश या ठिकाणी मात्र या नियमांचे पालन काटेकोरपणे होताना दिसते. कर्नाटक सरकारने तर या नियमात अधिक भर घालून मोबाइल टॉवरसाठी लागणारे विद्युत जनित्र इमारतीच्या छतावर न बसविण्याचा नियम केला असून, त्यापासून होणाऱ्या ध्वनिप्रदूषणामुळे ती आवाजाची मर्यादा न ओलांडण्याचे बंधन घातले आहे. कारण परवानगी दिलेल्या मोबाइल टॉवरमुळे प्रादेशिक कायद्याचे उल्लंघन होत असेल तर न्यायालयात आव्हान देता येते. त्यामुळे जेव्हा म्हैसूरमधील एका इमारतीवर विद्युत जनित्र बसविले गेले तो मोबाइल टॉवरचा भाग नसून, मोबाइल टॉवरला विद्युतपुरवठा करणारे यंत्र असल्याने न्यायालयाने तो काढून टाकण्याचेच आदेश दिले. हा खटला (KIC 11545) राज्य माहिती आयोगाकडे माहितीच्या अधिकारात म्हैसूर ग्राहक परिषदेने भरला होता. तो जिंकल्यामुळे अशा प्रकारची बरीच जनित्रे इमारतीच्या छतावरून हटविली गेली व नवीन बसविताना दक्षता घेतली गेली. अर्थात, ही जागरूक जनता व संवेदनशील यंत्रणा यांच्यामधील प्रक्रिया आहे. केरळमध्येही अशी जागरूकता चांगली असल्यामुळे तेथील हायकोर्टात एक खटल्यात म्हटले आहे की, मोबाइल टॉवर उभारणी ही घटनादत्त जगण्याच्या अधिकारापासून वंचित करणारी आहे. तिथेच दुसऱ्या एका खटल्यात मोबाइल टॉवर बसविण्यापूर्वी त्यापासून होणारा किरणोत्सर्ग व त्याचे दुष्परिणाम याबद्दल योग्य माहिती आजूबाजूच्या रहिवाशांना दिली नाही व जनतेला अंधारात ठेवून जगण्याच्या अधिकारावर गदा आणल्याचा दावा केलाय. अमेरिकेतील जागरूक जनतेने फोन कंपन्यांवर तर चक्क त्या कंपन्यांचे फोन वापरल्यामुळे कर्करोग झाल्याच्या केसेस फेडरल कोर्टात दाखल केल्या आहेत, म्हणून परदेशात म्हणजेच युरोपातील देश तसेच अमेरिका इथेही हे नियम करताना FCC म्हणजेच Federal Communication Commission चे र्निबध हे आकाशवाणी, दूरदर्शन, केबल तारा इ.साठी उपग्रह या सर्वापासून होणाऱ्या किरणोत्साराला अत्यंत कडक नियंत्रणखाली ठेवतात. विशेष म्हणजे मोबाइल टॉवरसाठी परवानगी देताना प्रक्षेपणाची तीव्रता किती व ज्या प्रकारच्या लोकांसाठी प्रक्षेपण केले जाणार आहे त्याची पूर्ण माहिती घेतली जाते. कमीत कमी टॉवरवरून प्रक्षेपण केले जावे म्हणून दोन अँटिनांसाठी तरतूद त्यावरच करून घेतली जाते. तेथील राष्ट्रीय पर्यावरण कायद्यानुसार पक्ष्यांच्या स्थलांतराच्या स्थानापासून मोबाइल टॉवर्सना दूर ठेवले जाते व प्राणीमात्रांना किरणोत्साराची बाधा होऊ नये म्हणून प्रक्षेपणाच्या तीव्रतेवर नियंत्रण ठेवण्याची तरतूदही कायद्यात केली आहे. धुके व खाली येणाऱ्या ढगांच्या प्रदेशात असे टॉवर्स लावू दिले जात नाही, ज्यामुळे वातावरणीय बदल संभवतात. महाराष्ट्र राज्यात जिथे सुमारे ५००० पेक्षा जास्त व मुंबईत २००० च्या आसपास अनधिकृत टॉवर्स असल्याचे सांगितले जाते, तिथे नगरविकास सचिव व पर्यावरण विभागाचे सचिव यांच्या एका समितीने मुख्यमंत्र्यांना मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांची जंत्री सादर केली. त्यात किरणोत्सारामुळे होणाऱ्या हानीचे ठोस पुरावे नसले तरी दिल्ली राज्य सरकारच्या पावलावर पाऊल ठेवून कडक र्निबधाची तरतूद केली आहे. ज्यात प्रत्येक रहिवाशांकडून टॉवर बसविण्यासाठी संमतीची आवश्यकता आहे. तसेच टॉवर्सची संख्या कमीत कमी ठेवून अधिकाधिक प्रक्षेपण करण्याच्या सूचना अँटेनाचा खालचा भाग वा तळ हा जमीन वा इमारतीच्या छतापासून निदान ३ मी. उंचीवर असावा, अशा विशेष तरतुदी आहेत. कारण नुकताच एक टॉवर बोरिवलीत झोपडपट्टी भागात जमिनीवर फक्त २० फूट होता, तो रहिवाशांनी केलेल्या माहितीच्या अधिकारांच्या बळावर कोर्टात जाऊन स्थानिक स्वराज्य संस्थेमार्फत हटवला. मोबाइल टॉवर ग्रीव्हन्सीस फोरमनेही अशा अनेक प्रकारचे खटले न्यायालयात जिंकल्याची उदाहरणेही ताजी आहेत. केंद्र सरकारने २००६ मध्ये यासाठी मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वे, नियम व बंधने ठरविली. यात या कंपन्यांनी सरकारकडून मोबाइल टॉवर बसविण्यापूर्वी संमती घेणे आवश्यक केले गेले. आपल्या पर्यावरण (संरक्षण) कायदा १९९६ नुसार काही मार्गदर्शक तत्त्व पाळणे आवश्यक आहे. ० शैक्षणिक संस्था व इस्पितळांच्या परिसरात मोबाइलचे टॉवर बसवू नयेत. कारण त्यामुळे मुलांना व आजारी व्यक्तींना कमी प्रतिकारशक्तीमुळे किरणोत्सर्गाचा त्रास संभवतो. ० चिंचोळ्या गल्ल्यांमध्ये मोबाइल टॉवर्स बसवू नयेत. कारण वादळ वा भूकंपासारख्या नैसर्गिक आपत्तीत ते अधिक धोक्याचे ठरू शकतात. ० मोबाइल टॉवर बसविताना इमारतीपासून तो कमीत कमी तीन मीटर दूर असला पाहिजे व अँटेना इमारतीच्या दिशेने ठेवू नये. ० बेस स्टेशन अँटेना जमिनीपासून तसेच छतापासून तीन मीटर उंचीवर बसवावा. ० एका टॉवरमधून अनेक प्रकारची वा कंपन्यांची प्रक्षेपणं करावयाची असल्यास मुख्य कंपनी ठरवून त्या कंपनीकडे असे प्रक्षेपण सोपवावे. ० लोकांना अशा टॉवरजवळ जाता येऊ नये म्हणून टॉवरच्या भोवताली संरक्षक भिंत व तारा तसेच छत इ.कडे जाण्याचा मार्ग बंद करावा. ० अशा टॉवरजवळ ठळक धोक्याची सूचना असलेले फलक लावणे तसेच त्या भागात धोक्याचा इशारा (विशिष्ट प्रकारचाच) असलेली सूचना लावणे कंपनीवर बंधनकारक आहे. उदा. Danger! RF Radiations, Do not enter!  २) Restricted Area. ० मोबाइल टॉवरसंबंधी कामे करणाऱ्या कामगार व तंत्रज्ञानांना विद्युत चुंबकीय किरणोत्सर्गापासून संरक्षण देणे आवश्यक असून, त्यांना अशा किरणोत्सारापासून उद्भवणाऱ्या धोक्यासंबंधी माहिती देणे बंधनकारक आहे.   स्थानिक स्वराज्य संस्थांनीही मोबाइल टॉवर उभारणीसाठी खालील गोष्टींचा विचार करणे आवश्यक आहे: ० टॉवरसाठी जागा निवडताना वनक्षेत्राला जास्त/प्रथम प्राधान्य द्यावे. ० द्वितीय प्राधान्य निवासी भागापासून दूर असलेल्या मोकळ्या जागेस द्यावे. ० जेव्हा निवासी भाग टाळणे शक्य नसेल, त्या वेळी तेथील मोकळ्या जागेत वा पार्कमध्ये त्यास लागून असलेल्या रहिवाशांची संमती घेऊनच टॉवर उभारणीस परवानगी द्यावी. ० अशा टॉवर उभारणीसाठी इस्पितळे, शैक्षणिक संस्था व निवासी भाग टॉवरपासून १०० मीटर क्षेत्रात येत असल्यास परवानगी नाकारावी. कंपनीला मोबाइल टॉवर बसविण्यापूर्वी काही परवाने मिळवावे लागतात. ० S.S.C. (Structural Safety Certificate एखाद्या मान्यताप्राप्त संस्थेकडून. ० स्थानिक स्वराज्य संस्था उदा. ग्रामपंचायत, नगरपालिका, महानगरपालिका इ.ची परवानगी. ० Identity Bond -   कंपनी वा सेवा देणारे मोबाइल टॉवर यामुळे होणाऱ्या हानी वा दुखापतीस जबाबदार धरले जातात व त्याची नुकसानभरपाई देणे त्यांच्यावर बंधनकारक होते. अलीकडेच मोबाइल सेटला १.६ हे ‘सार’ (एसएआर) मूल्य ठरविण्यात आलं व आधुनिक तंत्रज्ञानापेक्षाही जनतेच्या आरोग्याला प्राधान्य देत १ सप्टेंबर २०१२ पासून भारत सरकारच्या दूरसंचार विभागाने मोबाइल टॉवर्ससाठी सुधारित मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वेही अमलात आणली, ती खालीलप्रमाणे- ० १८०० मेगाहर्ट्झ प्रसारण क्षमता असलेले मोबाइल टॉवर ०९.२ वॅट्स (प्रतिचौरस मीटर) शक्तीचं प्रसारण त्याच्या एकदशांशपट क्षमतेचं म्हणजेच ९.२ वॅट्स (प्रतिचौरस मीटर) करावं. ० दोन अ‍ॅंटेना असलेला मोबाइल टॉवर हा वस्ती असलेल्या इमारतीपासून ३५ मीटर दूर असला पाहिजे व असे न करणाऱ्या कंपनीला ५ लाख रुपये दंड भरावा लागेल. ० स्थानिक संस्थांकडून ना हरकत प्रमाणपत्राचे दर ५ वर्षांनी नूतनीकरण दिल्ली, मुंबई, चेन्नई, हैदराबाद व बंगलोरसारख्या ठिकाणी (दिल्ली सरकार) काही संस्थांनी वा नागरी संघटनांनी मोबाइल टॉवरमुळे होणाऱ्या हानी व प्रदूषणासंबंधी वेळोवेळी आवाज उठविला व कंपन्यांशी यशस्वीपणे कायदेशीर लढा दिला व दिलेल्या मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांचे व नियमांचे उल्लंघन कंपनीकडून झाले असल्यास टॉवरची जागा हटविण्यास वा नुकसानभरपाई देण्यासही भाग पाडले असल्याची ताजी उदाहरणेही आहेत. अर्थात प्रत्येकाने या वा अशा संस्थांनी कारवाई करण्याची वाट न पाहता स्वत:च दक्षता बाळगणे वा अशा लढय़ात सहभागी होणे आवश्यक आहे. या तुलनेत भारतातील ०.९२ वॅ / मी२ हे बदललेलं प्रमाण स्वागतार्ह आहे. या सर्वाची अंमलबजावणी काटेकोरपणे केली जाण्यासाठी आपणही लक्ष देणे आवश्यक ठरतं. यासाठी मात्र सरकार व जनता यांनी एकत्रितपणे प्रयत्न करणे आवश्यक आहे. कारण खरा प्रश्न आहे तो आपल्या सर्वाच्या निरोगी जीवन जगण्याचा! विविध देशांतील मोबाइल टॉवरवरून प्रसारण अमेरिका, कॅनडा व जपान           -१२ वॅ/मी२ युरोपियन युनियन                 -९.२ वॅ/मी२ ऑस्ट्रेलिया                       -९ वॅ/ मी२ बेल्जियम                        -२.४ वॅ/मी२ इटली व इस्रायल                  -१.० वॅ/मी२ न्यूझीलंड                        -०.५ वॅ/मी२ चीन                            -०.४वॅ/मी२ रशिया व बेल्जियम                -०.२ वॅ/मी२ पोलंड, पॅरीस व हंगेरी              -०.१ वॅ/मी२

मोबाइल टॉवर : नियमावली

उदय पाध्ये ,शनिवार ’ ८ सप्टेंबर २०१२