Govt.'s radiation monitoring cell is a farce

Please go through the following complaint by karmayog group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karmayog/message/87698

Govt.'s radiation monitoring cell is a farce
Feb 5, 2013

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In Oct. 2012, after the launch the Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) Cell by the DoT, for citizens to register a complaint regarding EMF radiation from a cell tower, we had paid the Rs.4000/- required and registered a complaint.

We received a report that made no sense, that was not actionable by any authority and that did not help to solve our complaint at all. [see attached report]

In Dec. 2012, we wrote to Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, to Shri Milind Deora, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, to R. Chandrashekhar, Chairman TC & Secretary (T), Department of Telecommunications, requesting an answer to our queries and a resolution to our complaint.

No reply was received.

In Jan. 2012, we sent reminder letters to the same persons, viz, Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, to Shri Milind Deora, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, to R. Chandrashekhar, Chairman TC & Secretary (T), Department of Telecommunications, requesting a reply.

No reply was received.

Today, 3 months after we first paid Rs.4000 and filed a complaint, and 2 months after our first letter requesting assistance with our complaint, we have come to the conclusion that the government's radiation monitoring cell is a farce, and that the private agencies to whom the work has been outsourced, have fleeced thousands of citizens of their money and just left.

Do any of you'll have similar or different stories to share in this regard?

Thanks,

www.karmayog.org

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Date: 3-12-2012
1. Shri Kapil Sibal
Minister of Communications and Information Technology
Department of Telecommunications,
107, 1st Floor,
Sanchar Bhawan,
20, Ashoka Road,
New Delhi-110001


2. Shri Milind Deora
Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology
Ministry of Communications & IT,
Department of Telecommunications,
102, Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Ashoka Road,
New Delhi-110001

3. R. Chandrashekhar
Chairman TC & Secretary (T)
Department of Telecommunications
Ministry of Communications & IT,
Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Ashoka Road,
New Delhi-110001

Sub.: Measuring EMF radiation levels from cell towers to safeguard the health of citizens

Dear Sir,

This is with reference to the recent initiative launched by the DoT, the Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) Cell whereby citizens can register a complaint regarding EMF radiation from a cell tower, and the same is then measured by the Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL).

We reside in Mumbai, and accordingly in Oct. 2012, we had registered a complaint with the TERM Cell and paid the requisite fees, and thereafter a team from TCIL visited our premises and measured the radiation levels as needed.

Thereafter, we were informed to check on the TERM website in a few days, where our Radiation Report would be available, and the same could be then downloaded and used further, as needed.

We have downloaded the Report and the same is attached with this letter, for your reference.

We are writing to you as we are unable to determine from the Report whether or not the measured EMF radiation levels at our premises are safe or hazardous. This is because:
1. The Report does not mention the Units in which the EMF Radiation has been measured; it just states a number, such as 0.003391
2. The Report does not mention the safe levels of EMF Radiation, so that we are able to determine whether the Reading is within or beyond the safe level.

As you are aware, it is standard practice in any Report to state the baseline / safe / mean readings for any particular parameter, next to which the actual Reading is stated, so that it is obvious to any non-technical person as well whether the Reading is above or below par. E.g. as is done in blood tests.

We request that DoT urgently direct the TERM Cell and the implementing agency, TCIL to re-format and present the EMF Radiation Report with the data as we have suggested above.

Especially in view of the fact, that the government is charging Rs.4000/- per EMF Radiation Report, the least that is expected is that the Report received is accurate and professional, irrespective of whether the task has been outsourced or not.

We also tried to determine by ourselves what the DoT has stated as safe and permissable EMF Radiation levels for Cell Towers, but unfortunately, this information was not easily available.

The only information that we could find was that "The EMF exposure limit (Base Station Emissions) is lowered to 1/10th of the existing ICNIRP exposure level effective from 1st Sept. 2012. Indian standards are now 10 times more stringent than more than 90% countries in the world." from http://www.dot.gov.in/Electrical/Journey%20to%20EMF%20Radiation/exposure%20Limit%20mobile%20towers.pdf , but this did not help with our query, which is "What is the safe EMF Radiation from a mobile tower?"

We have also refered to the 71 page document at http://www.dot.gov.in/Electrical/Journey%20to%20EMF%20Radiation/TEC%20Test%20Procedure%20EMFields%20From%20BTS%20Antennae.pdf but the same is too technical in nature, and we were unable to solve our query as the document consists mainly of formulae and formats.

Our request to you:

1. Please state clearly the safe permitted EMF Radiation Levels in a simple manner for the common person to understand on the DoT website, TERM Cell website, TCIL website, websites of all Mobile Service Providers' and websites of all companies building and providing Mobile Towers.

2. Please change the format of the Radiation Report to include the Safe EMF Radiation limits next to the actual readings, and to mention the Units of Measurement too.

3. Please display sample Reports on all your websites so that citizens can get a better understanding of the same.

I look forward to the implementation of these suggestions that will lead to greater compliance of safe EMF Radiation from cell towers, and better health for the people of India.

Sincerely,

Mumbai