The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Health Ministry and Telecom Ministry for putting people’s Right to Health and Right to Life at risk by allowing mobile towers in close vicinity of human habitation.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have been asked to respond to the notice in two weeks.
The NHRC took the action following a complaint that alleged mobile phone towers, in the close vicinity of residential areas, were emitting radiations that were hazardous to human health, a statement by the NHRC said on Friday.
“It cannot be denied that today's generation is living amongst mobile towers, digital cables, mobiles etc. The virtual world has encompassed every aspect of human life. In such a scenario, if the allegations levelled in the complaint are true, the Right to Health and Right to Life of a common man is under serious threat,” the NHRC statement said.
Several High Courts in the country had earlier ordered that mobile towers should not be constructed within 500 meters of schools and hospitals. The release by NHRC also said the complainant “also referred to a Government order dated 21 August, 2013, which states that the local self government institutions should confirm that ‘the proposed tower is not coming within 500 meters of schools/hospitals.’”