The Department of Telecommunications has started cracking down on operators for not following the new radiation norms.

Notices have been issued to seven operators in Mumbai for shutting down 11 tower sites after they were found to be emitting radiation beyond permissible levels. The new norms, which came into effect from September 1, require operators to reduce emission levels by one-tenth from earlier levels.

A high level delegation of DoT officers visited a few tower sites in Mumbai yesterday as part of random verification of compliance. One of the sites located adjacent to Ekta CHS, Kanjur Marg (East) covering Saidham Building and Vighnaharta Building having 11 base stations of of Reliance Communications, TTML, Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Aircel and Loop Telecom were found radiating beyond permissible limits of the new radiation norms when measurements were carried out in some houses facing the nearby base transceiver station (BTS) antenna.

A meeting was organised by DoT officials with all the 11 licensed operators in Mumbai at short notice, which was attended by 32 officials from the 11 operators. Pictures of the BTS antennas and other details were also shown to the operators and on the spot orders were issued to 7 operators to stop radiating from these BTSs with immediate effect.

Functioning of BTSs may be resumed only after the sites are made compliant and compliance to that effect is verified by TERM Cell Mumbai.

All the operators were further directed to carry out a comprehensive exercise to identify all tower sites which are non-compliant as per latest radiation norms and ensure that they are either shut down or made compliant with respect to the radiation norms failing which penal action as per relevant provisions would be taken against delinquent operators.

>thomas.thomas@thehindu.co.in

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