Telecom Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said the government would consider a dialogue with experts on the notification relating to radiations from mobile phones and towers only if there is substantial evidence to prove that the stipulated norms were not right.

“We have issued notification and if anybody has any concern we are willing to have a dialogue. Otherwise, the question does not arise,” Sibal told reporters at International Health Conference organised by industry body Assocham on Wednesday.

“You cannot ask for review merely because some experts do not agree with the norms,” he said.

He said expert group that recommended emission norms included representative from communications and IT ministry, biotechnology department, Indian Council of Medical Research , ministry of environment and department of science and technology.

“Science and technology offer new hazards and solutions that throw up a constant conflict between two public interests. But, human health is fundamental and should be placed two steps ahead of scientific solutions,” he said.

Sibal said the government had recently set up an inter-ministerial committee which concluded that emissions from base transceiver stations (BTSs) are one-hundredth of prescribed limits, and hence safe for human beings. “We will soon be conducting online checks on BTS stations to ensure that there is no danger emitting from BTS towers,” he said.

“There is no scientific evidence worldwide to prove that electromagnetic radio frequency signals emitted by mobile phones and towers cause brain cancer and tumour,” professor at department of radiation oncology at University of Texas Health Science Centre, Vijaylaxmi said.

ronendrasingh@mydigitalfc.com