Supreme Court on Wednesday sought the Centre's response on a plea seeking protection of citizens from "deleterious" effects of radiation emanating from cell phones and mobile towers. The plea has also sought creation of a mechanism for "continuous monitoring of radiation from cell towers and putting the data in public domain". "There is a huge chunk of scientific data linking radiation from cell phones and towers to adverse health effects in people and animals. "Prohibit installation of cell towers within a distance of 500 metres from residential areas, schools, hospitals, markets and other places with dense human population, and wildlife habitation, and direct removal of towers already so installed," it said. The plea has sought a direction to DoT to "drastically reduce the exposure limit from cell towers and ... cell phones keeping in line with stricter norms followed in other countries and recommendations of scientific studies".

Source: dna June 29, 2016 16:18 UTC