Guidelines for Installation of the Mobile Towers

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is in the process of finalizing tougher norms for radiation emitting from cell towers. India currently follows the International Commission for Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNRIP), a German independent body’s guidelines set for exposure to radiation.

Mobile phone towers installed on top of buildings are a definite threat to human health. According to experts, radiation from mobile phones used for long duration is higher than those from mobile towers.

Good part of Telecom Tower is a single installed unit can be a home to multiple telecom providers. Mean, the same telecom tower can be used by multiple companies for distributing the signals. The government framed a policy in 2006 in which guidelines, rules and regulations have been framed for installing a tower. Under the guidelines, mobile service providers have to take clearances from the government before installing a tower.

Important Guidelines for Installation of the Mobile Towers

• Installation of Base Station Antennas within the premises of schools and hospitals may be avoided because children and patients are more susceptible to Electro Magnetic Field.

• Installation of Base Station Antennas in narrow lanes should be avoided in order to reduce the risks caused by any earth quake or wind related disaster.

• The Base Station Antennas should be at least 3 m away from the nearby building and antennas should not directly face the building. Further, the lower end of the antenna should be at least 3 meter above the ground or roof.

• In case of multiple transmitter sites at a specific locality sharing of a common tower infrastructure, should be explored, as far as possible, which can be coordinated through a nodal agency.

• Access to Base Station Antenna sites should be prohibited for general public by suitable means such as wire fencing, locking of the door to the roof etc. Access to tower site, even for the maintenance personnel, should be for a minimum period as far as possible.

• Sign boards/Warning Signs are to be provided at Base Station Antenna sites which should be clearly visible and identifiable. A warning sign should be placed at the entrance of such zone.
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• The “Warning Sign” should discourage longer stay in the zone, even for the maintenance personnel. The sign board may contain the following text :

Danger ! RF radiations, Do not enter !
Restricted Area.

• The operators and maintenance personnel, who are dealing with radio frequency devices, specially with Base Station Antennas installed on towers and at any other outdoor sites, should be protected from electromagnetic radiations. It is required that operators and maintenance personnel should be educated for possible hazards from these devices.

Location of Tower

• First preference shall be given to the location of tower in the Forest areas.

• Second preference shall be given to the location of tower in the open or public areas away from residential locations.

• Where it is not possible to avoid the location of the tower in residential area, the same shall be located in open space or park, with prior consent of owners of adjoining residential houses.

• Erection of tower shall not be allowed within a radius of 100 meter from residential building, school and hospital.

Permissions or Documents Required

• Structural safety certificate from designated institute : This is important certificate for installation of tower in building as the tower is installed on building of school.

• Consent from authority: Mobile phone operators  and building owner has to  get consent of Municipality or respective authority. Ensure that school or building owner has obtained required permission from consent authority to set up the tower.

• Indemnity Bond: This is required from owner or service provider for the installation of tower. Indemnity Bond is to take care of any loss or injury due to accident caused by the tower.

Disclaimer: The article contains data collected from various sources and the use of same is at readers discretion.

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and rules made there under, all mobile phone service providers are hereby directed to follow the following guidelines strictly at the time of installation of the mobile towers.

All local authorities are also requested that before giving any permission for installation of the mobile towers aforementioned guidelines should be consider.

As per the guidelines framed in 2006, rules and regulations have been framed for installing a tower. No tower would be installed within 100 meter radius of hospitals and educational institutes. But this are not followed as many towers are seen without taking care of the guidelines. With regard to the location of towers, cellular operators shall avoid residential areas for erection of the same.

In Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad & Bangalore, civic body has launched a drive to remove the illegal cell phone towers in the city. The civic body has observed that housing societies giving permissions to service providers to erect towers for a rent. Before erecting such towers, it is necessary to check the structural stability of the building according to the Development Control (DC) rules.