Only new mobile towers can reduce call drops: Prasad

Call drops will continue to happen unless new mobile towers are allowed to come up, Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said.

"If new mobile towers are not allowed to be installed, then call drops shall surely happen. I would also like to say that these planned protests against installation of mobile towers are wrong and uncalled for!" the minister said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has analyzed research reports from 30 countries and has come to the conclusion that radiation from cell towers is not harmful, he said, adding petitions or PILs were filed in Madras High Court, Allahabad High Court, and some other high courts and all these courts heard arguments and refused to give any judgment.

"In fact, I have even spoken to senior professors from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT); I have open to a discussion on this subject; if anyone has concrete evidence that radiation causes cancer, please share that with me," Prasad said.

"I am also pleased to share that the country's science department is also conducting a research with our help," the minister added.

The minister said it is important to understand that if one switches on television, there is radiation, wearing satin clothes also expose people to radiation as does as X-rays.

"Now is this radiation harmful? That's the question. Mobile towers are not harmful! Doesn't America have mobile towers? Doesn't Europe have mobile towers? There tele-density is much higher than in India. Now this planned campaign against mobile towers is totally uncalled for!" the minister added.