Claiming that radiation from most of telecom towers are within permissible limits, industry body COAI today said about 99 per cent of the Rs 700—crore penalty imposed on towers for violating norms is due to procedural issues such as delay in submission of reports.

“Of the total penalty imposed, 99 per cent of them are for procedural issues like delay in submission of certificates, applications etc,” COAI Associate Director Vikram Tiwathia told reporters when asked about the penalty imposed on towers for violating norms.

He claimed that radiation from telecom towers are within permissible levels and “only 1 per cent of total penalty of Rs 700 crore” imposed on telecom towers is “for radiation above permissible limit“.

Tiwathia said that industry is in discussion with the Department of Telecom to sort out penalty imposed due to procedural issues.

“There were many ambiguities with the process to be followed for reporting, testing and auditing. The industry has taken up all these issues on numerous occasions with the DoT.

The DoT itself acknowledges that these issues required to be clarified periodically,” Tiwathia said.

The government imposes a penalty of Rs 5 lakh per tower on violation of radiation norms.

“The industry and the DoT are working out the issue of penalty in an amicable manner, keeping in view of these issues,” Tiwathia said.

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