Mobile towers are installed by Telecom Service Provider/ Infrastructure

Providers to improve coverage and capacity of their networks subject to techno-

commercial feasibility, the rollout obligation. The Government has set up
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for planning and implementing
various schemes to set up mobile towers and provide telecommunication
services to people in the rural and remote areas of the country DoT follows the
standards and best practices recommended by relevant International agencies/
organisations such as World Health Organization (WHO), International
Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), International
Advisory Committee (IAC) on Electro Magnetic Field (EMF), International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) and various Study Groups under ITU for
monitoring global developments in this regard. The EMF emission norms in
India are 10 times more stringent than that as prescribed by ICNIRP. This
obviates the need of having separate norms for different localities. Department
of Telecommunications has issued advisory guidelines, dated 01.08.2013, to
State Governments for issue of clearance for installation of mobile towers. These
guidelines to State Governments are applicable to all areas including residential
areas and do not place any restriction on installation of mobile towers in densely
populated areas. An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), setup in 2010 to
examine the effect of Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) emission from Base
Transceiver Stations (BTSs) and mobile phones, after examining various
national and international studies on the environmental and health related
concerns due to EMF, had, inter-alia, indicated that most of the laboratory
studies were unable to find a direct link between exposure to radio frequency
radiation and health; and the scientific studies as yet have not been able to
confirm a cause and effect relationship between radio frequency radiation and
health.
Also, a committee, constituted by Hon’ble High Court Allahabad including
Members from IITs of Kharagpur, Kanpur, Delhi, Roorkee, Bombay and from
other scientific institutions of the country including Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) and All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Delhi, in
their report submitted in 2014, has, inter-alia, noted – “ ... On the basis of
scientific evidences, studies and reports available, it has been found that there is
no conclusive evidence about the stated dangers of EMF radiation from mobile
BTS tower...” The Committee has noted that “there are no conclusive evidence
to establish any causal link between the effect of EMF radiation from BTS with
biological effects described in cell models, animals or humans, and any possible
resulting health effects.”
Further, a joint initiative was launched by Science and Engineering Research
Board (SERB) under Department of Science & Technology (DST) and
Department of Telecommunications (DoT), wherein nineteen research have been
conducted to study possible impact of EMF exposure from mobile towers and
handsets on life i.e. Humans, Living Organisms, Flora & Fauna and
Environment. At present, the studies are non- conclusive.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications,
Shri Devusinh Chauhan in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha(06 APR
2022 )

NECESSITATE THE INSTALLATION OF A MOBILE TOWER

A minimum of 1200 square feet of space is required for tower installation if it's
on your roof. For mobile tower installation, the land area must be at least 2000
square feet. If possible, the home or building should have at least a G+2 storey,
and it should be the highest in the vicinity.

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED BY TELECOM SERVICE

PROVIDERS/ INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDERS FOR OBTAINING
CLEARANCE FROM LOCAL BODIES / STATE GOVERNMENTS FOR
INSTALLATION OF MOBILE TOWERS:

I. Copy of relevant license / Infrastructure Provider Registration Certificate

from Department of Telecommunications.

II. Data Sheet a) Name of Service/Infrastructure Provider b) Location c)

Tower Reference: i) Height, ii) Weight iii) Ground/Roof Top iv)
Pole/wall mounted v) Number of antennae

III. Copy of SACFA clearance / copy of SACFA application for the said
location submitted to WPC wing of DoT with registration number as
WPC acknowledgement along with undertaking that in case of any
objection/ rejection, TSPs/ IPs will take corrective actions / remove the
tower.

IV. Copy of structural stability certificate for ground based tower. In case of
roof top BTS towers, structural stability certificate for the building and
tower based on written approvals of any authorized Structural Engineer of
state/local bodies/Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee/
IIT/NIT or any other agency authorized by local body.

V. Copy of the type test certificate issued by Automotive Research

Association of India (ARAI) to the manufacturers of the Diesel Generator
(DG) Sets.
VI. Copy of clearance from Fire Safety Department only in case for high rise
buildings where Fire Clearance is mandatory.

VII. For forest protected areas, the copy of clearance from State Environment
& Forest Department, if applicable.

VIII. The local bodies may also seek submission of the copy of No Objection
Certificate (NOC) from Building Owner / entities having roof top rights
or roof top tenants in case of roof based tower/ land owner in case of
ground based tower, as the case may be. As per their rules in force, State
Governments, at their discretion, may seek fresh NOC at the time of
renewal of site (tenancy) contract for mobile tower.

IX. Acknowledgement receipt issued by TERM Cells (DoT) of the self-

certificate submitted by Telecom Service Provider/ Infrastructure
Provider in respect of mobile tower/ BTS (ground based/ roof top/ Pole/
wall mounted) in the format as prescribed by TEC, DoT, establishing /
certifying that all General Public areas around the tower will be within
safe EMR exposure limit as per peak traffic measurement after the
antennae starts radiating.

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES TO TERM CELLS FOR AUDITING BTS

1. Instructions/guidelines have been issued to the TERM Cells for auditing the
RF radiations from BTS for compliance to the prescribed norms. Following
are additional guidelines to TERM Cells in the matter.

2. With a view to strengthen monitoring and compliance of safety aspects /

provisions in regard to radio frequency emissions from mobile towers,
TERM Cells may take the following also into account while conducting their
audits for the purpose of ensuring that all general public areas are within safe
EMF exposure limits as prescribed by DoT.

 In case of both ground based towers & roof top towers, there shall be
no building right in front of the antenna(e), of equivalent height taking
into account the tilt of the lowest antenna on tower as per details in the
table below. Further, the antennae at the same height only are to be
counted, as the beam width of the mobile antennae, in the vertical
direction, is very narrow.
 No of Antenna pointed in same Building or structure same distance
direction from the antenna at the same height
1 20
2 35
4 45
6 55

 The distance figures in the above table are based on empirical

estimation considering that all the antennae are emitting at their
maximum RF power of 20 Watts and exactly in the same direction
with same height (a worst case scenario). In practice, the values of
safe distance of buildings will depend upon actual deployment
scenarios and mostly, may be far less than depicted above.

3. Wall Mounted/Pole mounted Antenna:

 Wherever the antennae are mounted on the wall of building or pole

on/along the road, their height should be at least 5 meters above
ground level /road level. However, such installations will have to
comply with the radiation limits.

 As far as safe distance of buildings from antenna is concerned,

guidelines as given above will apply.

HOW CAN YOU STOP MOBILE TOWER INSTALLATION IN A

RESIDENTIAL AREA?
In case a tower is built and is being operated by the company without due
approvals in place, the residents must report the same at the earliest. In January
2021, for example, the department of town and country planning in Gurugram
sealed four illegal mobile towers, while acting upon a complaint of Mapsko
Casa Bella society in Sector 82. The towers were installed and were being
operated in the building meant for the economically weaker section (EWS) of
the society, without the department’s permission.

In March 2021, the Faraskhana police in Pune seized a total of 26 mobile

network boosters and deactivated another 27 during a raid. The police took
down illegal mobile signal repeaters installed in homes, shops and other
commercial establishments during the raid.

In case your Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) has allowed a mobile

operator to set up mobile towers, to earn rentals, you can approach the local
authority – the sub district magistrate or the joint commissioner in your district
– to stop the installation, citing mental and physical impact of such a move. It
only helps if you have the support of other members of the housing society and
approach the authority through a joint complaint.

In 2020, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation pulled down a mobile tower at

Fragrance Garden, Sector 26, after residents continued to protest against it for
over a year. The mobile tower was built by the company even though the estate
office had not given permission for its installation. However, a no-objection
certificate had been issued by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation for the
mobile tower, two months after the UT estate office had written to the additional
commissioner, seeking action against the operator.

You could also approach the green tribunal to stop the installation of mobile
towers. In December 2020, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the
Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the East Delhi Municipal Corporation to
look into the issue and take appropriate action, after the residents moved a plea
in the green tribunal against the installation of a mobile tower in an apartment
building located in Vasundhara Enclave.

In September 2020, the NGT also directed the Bihar State Pollution Control
Board to frame guidelines regarding the installation of mobile towers and its
harmful effects. Under the Bihar Communication Tower and Related Structure
Rules, 2012, communication towers can be installed only on a commercial
building or on vacant land. These towers cannot be installed within a radius of
100 metres from schools, colleges or hospitals.

Note here that apart from maintaining the position that there is no evidence to
prove that electromagnetic radiations from the mobile towers either cause
pollution or health hazards, telecom companies had also earlier questioned the
jurisdiction of the NGT to decide on such complaints.

IS IT LEGAL TO INSTALL MOBILE TOWERS IN RESIDENTIAL

AREAS?
It is important to understand that no law bars companies from installing mobile
towers in residential areas, unless the building does not have a structural safety
certificate or residents are opposing the installation. However, mobile tower
installation companies need to ensure that the tower does not fall within a 100-
metre radius of hospitals and schools/colleges. While the guidelines suggest that
these towers should be installed in forest areas, no rule prohibits such
installation in highly populated areas.

FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF DOCUMENTS THAT NEED TO BE

SUBMITTED TO GET APPROVAL FOR A MOBILE TOWER
INSTALLATION IN PRIVATE PROPERTY:
1. Location Plan along with surrounding establishments. It is illegal to
install towers near schools and hospitals.
2. Site Plan showing complete dimensions of plot, number and height of
structures and access to plot.
3. Structural Stability Certificate from a certified structural engineer with
the height of the towers. The building should be able to withstand the
load of the mobile tower.
4. Copy of sanctioned plan of the building and legitimate occupancy
certificate.
5. Ownership documents.
6. Lease Agreement showing both parties (applicant and building owner)
have agreed to the installation.
7. Drawing of tower detailing foundation and designing parameters.
8. Height of the tower along with elevation details.
9. In case of high or low tension electrical wiring around proposed site,
documentation detailing of the distance between tower and lines is
mandatory.
10.Tower weight in metric tonnes.
11.Indemnity bond accepting responsibility of accidents caused through this
installation and a promise to make necessary compensation where
required.
12.A no objection certificate from the fire department.
13.Copies of all necessary documents proving compliance with Environment
(protection) Act, 1986.
14.Copy of Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocations
clearance along with an undertaking that in the event of problems arising
corrective measures to be taken or tower is to be removed.
15.Acknowledgement receipts from TERM cells or any equivalent body
certifying all surrounding public areas are within safe Electromagnetic
Radiation exposure.
16.Consent of the property owner. If the property is part of a cooperative
housing society, then a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the same is
needed. Also, in the case of an occupied residential building, the consent
of 70 percent of the residents is required
17.A structural stability certificate from a licensed structural engineer
18.Owner undertaking stating that the telecommunications cabin to be
developed alongside the mobile tower shall not be used for personal
purposes
19.No-Objection Certificate from the concerned civil aviation authority, if
the property is situated near an airport/airbase