Mobile phone towers health hazards,shift them out of hill towns: House

In a rare show of unanimity in the Himachal Assembly on Wednesday,MLAs belonging to the BJP and the Congress asked the government to act against the companies for flouting all environmental and building norms to install mobile phone towers at places like atop residential buildings. “All these towers should be immediately shifted out to places away from habitations,especially areas close to health institutions and schools,” said one of the legislators.

The issue was raised during the Question Hour by Kaul Singh Thakur (Congress),who asked the government to also undertake a comprehensive study on the impact of the towers on the health of the people and buildings,besides animals and birds.

Thakur was joined by BJP’s Suresh Bhardwaj,who claimed that radiations from the towers were hazardous to the health of the people,and that its vibrations caused damage to the buildings supporting the towers.

In his reply,Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP) and Urban Development Mohinder Singh shared the concern of the house. He said: “If the towers violate the norms or pose risk to the lives of the people and affect hill architecture and environment,the government will initiate action under law. We will take up the issue with mobile companies and direct them to shift the towers out of residential areas and colonies,not alone in Shimla but also other hill towns.”

In Shimla alone,mobile companies have installed 118 towers atop buildings. Permissions from the Shimla Munincipal Corporation had been sought only for 16 of them,it is learnt.

According to the minister,the norms prohibit installation of towers close to health and education institutions and make it mandatory for the companies to obtain no-objection certificates from local residents. The towers should be allowed only in the forest areas or away from residential colonies.

Replying to a query by Kaul Singh Thakur,Singh said the Council for Science and Technology had undertaken a survey some time back. “It did not find any adverse impact on human health at that time. However,now we realise the need for a comprehensive study. The government will engage a leading national or international agency to do this study and also take scientific inputs on the issue,” he said.

The minister said the government had made up its mind to frame a policy on mobile towers and take views of all departments concerned.

Missing sparrows: Towers to blame?
Tiny chirpy sparrows that lived in the colonies close to human habitats are nowhere to be seen and heard these days. As the Himachal Assembly took up the issue of mobile phone towers,Minister for Urban Development Mohinder Singh said: “Sparrows have become extinct and one of the causes is mobile phone towers.” Enquiries from the state’s environment and forest departments have confirmed that studies done in some towns concluded that mobile towers were a reason for common sparrows disappearing from the hill towns.

“We have received a communication from Additional Chief Secretary Sarojini G Thakur for undertaking a comprehensive study on harmful impacts of mobile phone towers on environment,birds,human beings and buildings. We will frame the terms for this study very soon,” said Nagin Nanda,Director,Environment Protection. She added: “Before finalising the terms,we will also try to get information on practices and safeguards being followed in other states,or internationally.”

Forest Minister J P Nadda said: “Disappearing of sparrows in the hills is a very serious matter. We will take steps on the basis of the study that the government proposes to undertake on mobile phone towers.”