Residents of Dadar’s Parsi Colony are up in arms against the high levels of radiation from cellphone towers in view of a report published in dna(April 22) that six people in the area developed cancer in three years.

In a petition that will be submitted to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, members of Forum Against Cell Towers (FACT), formed two months ago, have sought clarity in the draft policy on cell phone towers.

At least 200 people signed the petition at a meeting in Mancherji Joshi hall on Sunday to make people aware of the threats of high electro magnetic field (EMF) radiations.

FACT member Nikhil Desai said they were trying to gather as much support possible before raising the matter with the chief minister. The residents want the government to define safe radiation levels and to clearly demarcate the ideal distance between residential structures and cellphone towers.

Desai said the DoT (department of telecommunication) recently came up with strict rules.

“But there is ambiguity about which governing body would look into cellphone radiation-related issues. We want the state government to come clean about it,” he said.

Other civil activists and residents groups have welcomed the petition. Anti-radiation activist Prakash Munshi, who addressed the meet, said: “We will support the petition. All residents’associations will come forward to sign it.” Various government agencies are speaking different languages putting the health of the people of the country at risk, Munshi said.

Dr Ashish Mehta, a neurosurgeon with Breach Candy hospital, gave a presentation on the ill-effects of the high levels of radiation. Turn to p7

Mehta said round-the-clock operation of cell phone towers and antennas can have cumulative effects that would be visible over a period of time.

While residents are firm that radiation levels in India are very high compared to other countries, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) doesn’t think so.

Rajan Mathews, COAI director general, said activists don’t base their arguments on scientific facts and studies so far undertaken by various national and international bodies.

It results in unwarranted fear among people.

“We wish to reiterate that the cellular industry is working very closely with the department of telecommunications and various central and state bodies to clarify all doubts and issues around the installation and functioning of telecom towers,” he said.

Actress Juhi Chawla, who too attended the meeting, insisted that mobile companies must highlight the specific absorption rate (SAR) of handsets. SAR points out the amount of radio frequency energy absorbed by a body while using a cell phone. “Cell phones are not toys. There should be guidelines on how to use them to minimise exposure to radiations,” she said.

Radiation menaceThey want the govt to define safe radiation levels and to clearly demarcate the ideal distance between residential structures and cellphone towers.

State govt should clearly specify which governing body would look into cellphone radiation-related matters.