Friday, April 06, 2007
KARACHI: The Environment Protection Department will issue notices to mobile phone companies on moving cell-phone towers out of residential areas, said Sindh Environment & Alternative Energy Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed.
Presiding over meeting of Environment Protection Department on Thursday, he said that the emission of electromagnetic waves from these towers were dangerous and added to the already prevalent air pollution. The minister noted mobile phone companies had not informed that residents of the areas closest to the towers of the possibly radiation risks. It is necessary to shift the towers out of densely-populated areas because of the possible health hazards. Dr Ahmed urged the department to raise awareness about them involved and stressed that if the guidelines set by the International Committee on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection were followed, these risks would be minimised. He warned that if the towers were not relocated, the government would take legal action and impose heavy fines on the companies involved. ppi
