'Policy for easier placement of mobile towers in residential

A new policy is in the pipeline which will make it easier to put up mobile towers in residential areas, Union Telecom Secretary J S Deepak said today while terming health problems due to EMF emissions as 'myth'.
"We are in talks with the stakeholders to lay down a policy that will make it easier to put up mobile towers in residential areas. It will be drafted in two months," he told reporters here.
"No study so far conducted by the World Health Organisation or any other institution proves the ill effects of EMF emissions and mobile towerson human health," Deepak said, adding it is a myth that needs to be shattered.

Expanding mobile tower network is a possible method to deal with the perennial problem of call drops, he said, adding that lack of mobile towers could be a reason for this.
Citing an instance, he said "connectivity was low and call drops more frequent at Akbar Road in New Delhi earlier with fewer mobile towers in the area."
"But the expansion of mobile tower network in the area in recent months has not only improved connectivity but also reduced call drop incidences in the area," he said.

After his interaction with Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Shatrughna Singh, who made a strong pitch for improving mobile connectivity in Chardham area, Deepak said, "The Centre will help generously in increasing the number of mobile towers in the high-altitude border areas of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir especially areas of tourist interest."

While interacting with the Union Telecom Secretary, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary demanded better connectivity at ITBP and SSB posts on Chardham yatra route vulnerable to natural disasters.
Expressing agreement with the suggestions made by the Chief Secretary, Deepak assured that his department will soon start working on them.