'Mobile towers not illegal, don't affect health'

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) Monday said that cell phone towers in the city were not illegal and that radiation from them doesn't affect health adversely.

The COAI and Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) reiterated that mobile towers shouldn't be termed "illegal" as they have been installed as per the guidelines issued by the department of telecommunications and the radiation they emit is within the limits prescribed.

"The towers are not illegal as permissions for them have been granted and documents and fees had been submitted to the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi)," said COAI director general Rajan S. Mathews.

Mathews cited a report by the WHO published in 2009, which said that "considering the very low exposure levels", there is no convincing evidence that the week signals (from mobile towers) cause adverse health effects.

Tilak Raj Dua, senior director general of TAIPA, said that the permissible radiation emission from towers in India is between 900 MHZ to 1800 MHZ, for GSM providers, which is one-tenth of the international standards.

"Around 95 percent of the countries in the world have higher norms than India," he said.

There are around 5,600 towers installed under the MCD in the capital.