Ranchi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken serious note to the radiation hazards posed by mobile towers in residential colonies in Jharkhand.

In a missive, the commission has directed Jharkhand chief secretary AK Singh to rope in a competent agency to assess the impact of radiation from mushrooming mobile towers on human beings in residential areas of Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro and some other districts.

The direction followed in the light of a complaint filed by President of Jharkhand Human Rights Conference Manoj Mishra to the apex body in which it was alleged that radiation from mobile towers were posing serious health hazards to the children and the patients undergoing treatment at hospitals due to their proximity with the institutions.

In the petition, Mishra pointed out that medical reports proved that electromagnetic waves emanating from radio antenna of mobile towers can cause memory loss in children and affect senior citizens with pacemakers.

“Scientists have even warned of threat to cancer, miscarriage and genetic defects of the neonatal,” he said.

Acknowledging the receipt of the NHRC direction, Singh said that the Health secretary has been asked to complete the formalities for initiating a probe into the matter.

The Health Department, sources said, is contemplating setting up a committee with doctors, pollution experts and some social activists to analyse the impact of the radiation hazards on the target sections.

In the letter to the Jharkhand Chief Secretary, the NHRC Assistant Registrar (law) has sought a comprehensive probe report from the government and action taken in the light of the recommendation of the probing committee.

As many as 14 mobile companies have licences from the Department of Telecom (DoT) to operate in Jharkhand. There is a mad rush among the operators to expand their network by installing mobile towers across the cities.
—iGovernment Bureau