Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Wednesday sought to play down health concerns related to mobile towers, saying they emit a low level of radiation within the prescribed norms and are "completely safe".
"...Citizens have no reason to panic as mobile towers emit low-level radiation, which is within the prescribed Department of Telecom, Government of India norms which makes mobile towers completely safe," COAI Director-General Rajan Mathews said in a statement.
Consumer health and interest are "paramount" for the telecom industry, he added.
The comments come in the wake of a report that Supreme Court has ordered shutting down of a BSNL mobile tower in Gwalior on the plea of a 42-year old cancer patient. The order is expected to intensify ongoing deliberations on impact of radiation from mobile phone towers on people's health.
