Awareness programme on Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Emissions and Mobile Towers
Author(s): City Air NewsDignitaries during the Awareness programme on EMF Emissions in Ludhiana on Tuesday. Ludhiana, March 29, 2017: An awareness programme was organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Min. of Communications...
cityairnews
Mar 29, 2017 09:30
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Dignitaries during the Awareness programme on EMF Emissions in Ludhiana on Tuesday.
Ludhiana, March 29, 2017: An awareness programme was organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Min. of Communications on Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Emissions and Mobile Towers today at Hotel Park Plaza in Ludhiana. This is part of a nationwide public outreach campaign to dispel myths about EMF Emissions and quell unfounded fears of citizens through scientific evidence. Shri Khushwant Rai, Director, TERM Cell, Punjab delivered the inaugural address and highlighting the importance of mobile connectivity across the state and emphasising on the need of cultivating a scientific temper and deepening collaboration between the public, Government and industry for growth and progress of Ludhiana.
Sh. Pradeep Kumar Agrawal, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana presided over the function as Chief Guest.
Shri R P Singhal, DDG TERM, Punjab and Dr. Arun Chougule, Dean & Head of Department of Radiological Physics SMS Medical College, Jaipur graced the occasion as the Speakers of this programme. Senior officers from the Central Government, State of Punjab, eminent persons and public representatives were also present. An expert panel comprising of telecom officers and doctors presented the scientific facts clarifying various myths on possible health hazards from mobile tower radiation.
Sh. Pradeep Kumar Agrawal, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana told that the call drops and connectivity issues are being faced by all but whenever there is any installation of mobile tower, there is an opposition from public. He congratulated Department of Telecom for organising this EMF awareness programme and connecting with the public. He stated that such awareness programmes would act as a confidence building measure between the authorities and public and help in removing the myths in the minds of public.
Shri R P Singhal, DDG TERM, pointed out that WHO has conducted approximately 25,000 studies around the world over the past 30 years and based on an in-depth review of scientific literature, he added: “Despite the feeling of some people that more research needs to be done, scientific knowledge in this area is now more extensive than for most chemicals. Current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields.”
Dr. Arun Chougule, Dean & Head of Department of Radiological Physics SMS Medical College, Jaipur referred to the EMF Project established by WHO, in which over 50 national authorities and 8 international organizations are involved. Together, since 1996, they have been reviewing scientific information to provide scientifically sound and objective answers to public concerns about the possible hazards of low-level electromagnetic fields. Despite extensive research, to date there is no evidence to conclude that exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields is harmful to human health.
Shri Sudesh Kumar Chopra, Director, TERM Cell, Punjab thanked Sh. Pradeep Kumar Agrawal Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana for guidance and showing keen interest in creating awareness at District level. He also shared his happiness that India is following is more stringent norms than the norms prescribed by WHO. “I assure you to extend all possible help and to spread such awareness that EMF radiation from Mobile towers is not harmful to human health etc.,” he stated.
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A session between senior government officials, participants from Civil society and RWAs.
In the next session, actual site testing was carried out to measure electromagnetic frequency (EMF) emissions from mobile towers in Ludhiana. It was found that the mobile towers in Ludhiana were transmitting well within permissible limits and, in fact, in most cases much lower than the prescribed limits in India. The testing was conducted for BTS at Park Plaza, Feroze Gandhi Market and Novelty City Plaza and the results were shared with the people present at the sites, stating that all towers are safe, substantiated by the low levels of radiation that showed up in the tests.
In fact, the average radiation from towers monitored in three locations was 4.9% of the limits set by the DoT, well within the prescribed limits. The level of EMF emissions is as under:
Location | Radiation Level (Worst Value) | Prescribed Limit | Actual Reading as %age of Prescribed Limit |
Park Plaza | 0.003319 watts/square meter | 0.45 watts/square meter | 0.7% |
Feroze Gandhi Market | 0.04383 watts/square meter | 0.45 watts/square meter | 9.74% |
Novelty City Plaza | 0.01908 watts/square meter | 0.45 watts/square meter | 4.24% |
AVERAGE | 4.9% | ||
Date:
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
