No 4G tower without residents' consent: Mumbai BJP tells Sitaram Kunte

The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) Mumbai unit has taken up the issue of 4G mobile towers with civic chief Sitaram Kunte. Secretary of the party's city unit Vivekanand Gupta on Monday shot off a letter to Kunte, raising concerns over the locations of the 4G towers.

"Consistent objections have been raised by citizens to the MCGM decision to install 4G communication equipment on all open spaces, parks, playgrounds, civic grounds, gardens and green spaces. It is indeed shocking that without any public hearing, without even calling for any suggestions or objections from residents/ALMs, this unilateral decision has been taken by MCGM. No tower should be installed in violation of established guidelines and without consulting the residents of the area. This decision fundamentally violates the citizens' right to a healthy life," Gupta said in his letter.

According to a Rajasthan high court verdict, radiation emitted from mobile base towers is "hazardous to children and elder citizens". Following this, an inter-ministerial committee was formed by the Centre to study the impact of mobile tower radiation on human health. The panel examined 90 international and national studies/reference papers related with EMF radiation before finalising its report. One of the most important recommendations of the panel is to impose restrictions on installation of mobile towers near high-density residential areas, schools, playgrounds and hospitals.

It's surprising that MCGM has ignored the inter-ministerial committee recommendations, which have been accepted by the government.