Rs 3.67 crore fine collected from TSPs during last five years for violating prescribed EMF norms

The Government has collected over Rs 3.67 crore fine telecom service providers during the last five years for violating prescribed EMF radiation limits. The Government has collected a total amount of Rs. 2,08,80,000 in Karnataka LSA from various telecom service providers during 2016-2020. The Government additionally collected a total amount of Rs.1,58,85,000 from telecom service providers in Tamil Nadu LSA.

Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel, Tata Teleservices, Aircel, Vodafone, Reliance Communications, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, and BSNL have also been fined for violating EMF radiation limits across a cumulative 163 BTS. The collection of the fine imposed in these cases however is pending due to legal challenges.

“The collection of fine imposed in other State/UTs as referred to in Annexure-2 is pending because the imposition of fine is under challenge before Hon’ble Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT),” said Devusinh Chauhan in Rajya Sabha yesterday.

As on 22th July 2021, India has 6,63,411 mobile towers across the 22 LSAs in the country. The Government has a well-structured process and mechanism for monitoring EMF violations so that the telecom service providers adhere to the prescribed norms.

“Government has put in place a well-structured process and mechanism for monitoring any violation, so that Telecom Service Providers strictly adhere to the prescribed norms including submission of self-certificate before commercial start of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) site.

The field units of Department of Telecommunications also regularly carry out the EMF audit upto 10% BTS Sites annually on random basis. Government has also doubled the penalty for violation of the prescribed EMF norms from Rs.5 lakhs to Rs.10 lakhs per BTS per incidence with effect from 20.11.2013 and further to 20 Lakhs per site on 29- 03-2019,” said Devusinh Chauhan.