The Ministry of Enviornment and Forests has issued guidelines on use of mobile towers in a way to minimize their impact on wildlife including birds and bees. The directions follow the submission of a report by an expert committee. The report indicates that electro-magnetic radiations (EMR) interfere with the biological systems.

The ministry has directed state and local bodies to regularly audit and monitor EMR in cities and towns, educational, hospital, industrial, residential, recreational premises and especially around the Protected Areas and ecologically sensitive areas. The Department of Telecom has been asked to prevent overlapping of high radiaion fields and not to allow new towers within a radius of one kilometre of the existing towers. Problematic towers from EMR point of view should be got suitably relocated.

Other guidelines are that bold signs and messages on the dangers of cell phone towers and associated radiations be displayed in and around the structures of towers. The Forest Department should be consulted before installation of cell phone towers in and around wildlife parks, sanctuaries and zoos.

An official release says regular awareness drives should also be undertaken by the State Governments and concerned departments to make people aware about dangers of EMR from cell phone towers.