"In 2010, WHO has stated that a large number of studies have been conducted over last two decades to assess whether mobile phone radiation from towers pose a potential risk. To date, no adverse health effect has been established," Minister of State for Communications Milind Deora said.
"So, the point I am making is that the jury is out in terms of the ill effects of this," he said during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha. However, he said an inter-ministerial committee has been set up recently to look into the matter in a holistic way and according to the panel`s suggestion, India has adopted the best practices which only 10-20 per cent of the world follow.
"We moved to a regime which is more stringent than International Convention for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and that is followed by about 10-20 per cent of the world," Deora said.
ICNIRP sets the standards for permissible radiation limits from towers. Almost 70 per cent of the world adopt ICNIRP. "The government has taken many steps to prevent any effect from radiation from mobile towers and also to build capacity. Our ministry`s goal is to increase tele-density," he said.
India`s tele-density currently stands at 75 per cent and 72 per cent of that is wireless. He said in its forthcoming new telecom policy, the government may incetivise operators by allowing them access to carbon credit. "In the new policy, we hope to finalise very soon, we have tried to move towards green telecom and are looking at other ways like using solar panels or may be allowing carbon credit," he said.
Deora said, "We are very concerned about the subsidised diesel being used by private companies or public sector companies for commercial purposes." A telecom tower consumes around 8,500 litres of diesel a year, he added.