No jurisdiction to deal with cell towers radiation: NGT

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal today held that the contentious issue of radiation from mobile tower was beyond its jurisdiction as such an issue does not fall under the ambit mandated to it.

"We are of the considered view that radiation, i.e emission of electromagnetic waves from the towers constructed by the respective respondents does not fall within the ambit, scope and jurisdiction in this tribunal under the provisions of the NGT Act with reference to the Environment Protection Act," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar said.

The bench, however, clarified that it has not recorded any findings with regard to whether radiation is a pollutant generally or under any other specific law.

It also said that since various high courts have given divergent views on this issue, the matter is presently pending before the Supreme Court.

The tribunal's verdict came on a batch of petitions which had claimed that mobile phone towers were a health hazard and "norms were flouted brazenly by all companies involved with installation of mobile towers, having complete disregard and concern for environmental protection".