Salcete debates on radiation

COLVA: Gram sabhas convened by panchayats in Salcete’s coastal belt to discuss setting up of mobile towers to enhance network connectivity in preparation for the upcoming BRICS summit in October proved largely inconclusive with only a few agreeing to the proposal.
The directorate of panchayats, through block development offices, had issued a memorandum to 18 panchayats in Salcete and Mormugao, to hold meetings related to enhancing connectivity.
There was strong opposition from some members of the Orlim panchayat, while others advocated the need for better connectivity, sarpanch Gaudence Luis said. It was agreed to look for sites away from residential areas to accommodate the towers. The Carmona panchayat also took a similar decision.
In Benaulim, the meeting turned into a chaotic affair with some villages refusing to watch the presentation, causing interruptions and accusing officials of department of telecom (DoT), Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) and oncologists of being biased and solely highlighting the positive sides of mobile towers. No representatives of service providers or Cellular Operators Association of India were present at the meetings.
GSPCB came under heavy fire from villagers for not conducting ground checks and issuing consent to service providers based on other agencies’ reports.
Deputy director general of telecom, Pune circle, Rama Gopal stated that electromagnetic field (EMF) of mobile towers is the same but with different names at different frequencies. “We use AM/FM and it is called radio frequency, microwaves use microwave frequency. Radio frequency fields given off by cell phone towers is similar to the AM/FM and this energy cannot break chemical bonds in your body”.
Oncologist Dr Gunjan Baijal said the installation of towers will not impact the incidence of cancer. “There is no sufficient evidence to indicate that mobile towers cause health ailment but enough evidence to show otherwise,” he said.
But in Cavelossim, the sarpanch told TOI, the telecom department has proposed five more towers within 100 metres of five existing ones, and villagers resolved the existing connectivity was good enough.
In Colva, the meeting to discuss the setting up of four towers in addition to the existing five was adjourned till September 23 due to lack of quorum.