February 7, 2006	Tuesday	Muharram 8, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 6: A consumers rights organization has challenged installation of cellphone antennas and boosters in densely-populated areas in the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, taking the plea that their waves are harmful to human beings.

The Network for Consumers Rights Protection, in its petition, has pleaded that mushroom growth of radio and telephone boosters on top of multi-storeyed buildings in the twin cities are posing serious threat to the health and lives of the citizens. The petition was filed on complaints from people.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Capital Development Authority, Rawalpindi Development Authority and Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency have been made respondents in the petition.

The Network is of the view that the waves emitted by cellphone boosters kill slowly, and the people living under or close to such towers are under constant threat.

“Ironically, the government in order to create healthy investment competition is granting licences to radio and cellular phone companies,” the petition said, adding that there was no mechanism for installing boosters that transmitted information through electromagnetic rays.

“These rays can cause serious environmental and health hazards. Most of these antennas, some of them 80 feet high, are installed on rooftops without following the proper procedures and guidelines,” the petition said.

The consumer rights organization said mobile phone and other companies installed their boosters on buildings after paying huge money to the owner and monthly fee to the municipal authorities. According to a survey conducted by the Network, no safety measures have been taken in installing most of the antennas.

“Building structure engineers and experts have warned that strong winds can uproot these antennas which can cause loss of life and property,” it said.

Before moving court, the Network wrote to the authorities concerned, informing them of the hazards associated with installation of boosters and asking them to take safety measures.

The Network said under article 9 of the Constitution, all citizens were entitled to protection of law from being exposed to hazards of electromagnetic field or any other such hazard whether it was due to installation and construction of any grid station, factory, power station etc.

The court is expected to start hearing of the case from Tuesday.