'Adhere to radiation norms or cough up Rs 5 lakh'

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) announced that all base transceiver stations (BTSs), which have not yet been certified for adherence to mobile tower radiation standards, will have to pay a penalty of Rs. 5 lakhs each.

Over 4.16 lakhs (4,16,061) BTSs, out of the total 5.60 lakhs (5,60,571), have been self certified for the compliance by the Telecom Engineering and Resource Monitoring  (TERM) Cell of the DoT, as on November 15, 2010.

Union Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot observed that telecom companies and infrastructure companies, which own passive telecom infrastructure, have an obligation to meet the statutory requirement after being partners with the government in accepting and adopting the norms prescribed.

In order to ensure that electromagnetic emissions from these BTSs adhere to the standards adopted by India, which are based on the international standards prescribed by International Commission for non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), necessary amendments were carried out in the Access Service Licenses on November 04, 2008.

The Industry was required to self-certify each of their BTSs by May 15, 2010, and submit the same to TERM Cells. On the request of the Industry, the deadline was, however, extended to November 15, 2010.