The Cell Phone Tower Owners and Neighbour Association has demanded that the installation of new cell towers should be stopped due their “harmful effects” on citizens living near such towers. The president of the association, Mr B. Purna Chander Rao, told a press conference here today that those living around cell towers feared adverse effects due to “harmful radiation”. He stated: “We, the cell tower site owners, are equally responsible ... and request authorities like the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ... to stop installation of new cell towers until ethical clarification is given to the public.”
The association demanded that apart from a periodic testing of radiation levels at cell towers, information should be displayed for the public to view. New towers should be installed only after a no-objection certificate was received from neighbours. The association said that if there was a risk of radiation, the cell tower damages, legal fees and municipal taxation must be be borne by the service providers.