Portal to show mobile tower radiation

Kochi: Work is being done on a web portal which will show real-time data of radiation being emitted from mobile towers in a particular area, a Telecom Department official said Monday.

"We are working on a web portal so that a person can see how much radiation a person is exposed to in that area," A.K. Bhargava, Member (Technology) in the Department of Telecommunications, said at the International Telecommunication Union-T SG5 meeting.

He said the Telecom Department had started working with industry body Cellular Operators Association of India -- the GSM body in India -- to develop the portal.

"It is in nascent stage. We are yet to see proof of concept for this project. The idea is that a person should be able to know in real time how much radiation mobile tower in his proximity is emitting," Bhargava added.

Experts at the seminar said there was need for a clear roadmap and responsibility in the government on this topic, as well as for adoption and compliance of health-based standards.

The other things are a public information programme and promotion of research in the field of health and mobile telephony subject.

S.S. Sirohi, senior deputy director general, Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cell, said: "The radiation standards of mobile towers that are adopted by the Indian government is 10 times less than the prescribed norms. However, there is a need to carry out research on the impact of mobile towers in human health and the governments should strike a balance." -- IANS