2.0 sparks debate on the ignored cell phone radiation in Chennai

Two days after the cellular organisations demanded the censor board to cancel the film’s approval stating that the movie shows telecom sector in bad light, green activists and former telecom advisory committee members are promoting the movie as the film talks about the ignored cell phone radiation. 

Few managers of Chennai BSNL have suggested their staff to watch the movie and market BSNL which claims to follow low-end safe technologies.

“The movie has created a healthy discussion among the telecom staff and there were a few calls to me asking to rake up the issue,” said V Sathiabalan, former member, telecom advisory committee. “The movie could have given more details about the radiation levels which would have created awareness among the public in Chennai, where there are more than 5000 cell phone towers,” he added.

“For instance, the number of cell phone towers and antennas are more regulated in Germany, whereas in India such radiation norms are yet to be standardised and these codes are examined only by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). There are no common facts shared in the public domain. There is a need for more transparency when it comes to cell phone towers and radiations in India,” Sathiabalan opined.

“Some six years back, when the 2G and 3G technologies came, TRAI penalised private telecom players for not following the norms related to electromagnetic wave frequencies, but at BSNL the policy is very clear, no dirty strategies to promote business,” said a BSNL official attached to Chennai circle. However, there are no authentic studies on the subject to prove that EMF is a pollution, the official quipped.

“Telecom operators admit that cell phone towers emit electromagnetic and microwaves. Microwaves are used in cooking. Now imagine what happens to eggs in the nest if exposed constantly to microwaves,” asks conservationist K Brinda of Biodiversity Conservation Foundation.

Brinda who is currently studying the DNA codes of migratory birds using tail feathers opines that there is a need for an in-depth scientific study on the cell phone towers and radiations. Such a study will also help in knowing the reason why the bird populations in cities equipped with cell phone towers dwindle.