Question : Electro-Magnetic Waves

(a) whether the Government is aware about many studies reports which indicate that honey bees are killed by the electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phone towers;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is aware of the mysterious disappearance of butterflies, some insects and birds; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken or being taken by the Government to deal with all forms of electro-magnetic pollution of the environment and the deadly electro-smog created by mobile phones and towers?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
(SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY)


(a) to (d): Government is aware of many study reports which indicate adverse effects of electromagnetic waves emitted from mobile phone towers on honey bees. Some reports claimed that radiation from cell phone influences honey bees’ behavior and physiology in controlled laboratory conditions. A study report of an Expert Committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests elaborates that while there are indicators that the electromagnetic radiations affects biological systems of animals, birds and insects, it also points out that exact correlation between radiation of communication towers and health of wild life has so far not been established. Various committees constituted by the Government were unable to find a direct link between mobile tower radiation and health of living organisms. Based on a recent in-depth review of the scientific literature, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields.

Government, through the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body under Department of Science & Technology (DST); and Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, has launched a program to study possible impact of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation exposure from mobile towers and handsets in the non-ionizing band (300MHZ to 3 GHZ) on life. i.e. Humans, Living Organisms, Flora & Fauna and Environment.

The Department of Telecommunication has already taken necessary steps and adopted stricter norms for safety from EMF radiation that are emitted from mobile towers. The limits for EMF radiations from base station in India are ten times more stringent than the existing limits prescribed by International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and recommended by WHO. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued an advisory on use of Mobile towers to minimize their impact on wildlife including birds and bees.

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