One year of Goa IT Department lethargy on cellular radiation assurances

It was on February 08, 2024 that Noryh Goa District Level Telecom Committee met in Panjim chaired by North Goa Collector Ms. Sneha Gitte in presence of Shri Pradeep Gaonkar, Assistant Director, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications. Various people from North Goa with complaints against mobile towers were called at the meeting. Certain decisions were taken too like those recorded on minutes as follows:

1. With regard to complaint against mobile tower next to Government primary school at Morlem colony in Sattari it is recorded "The Collector assured that the complaints would be forwarded to the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, for necessary action and report on the health effects of radiation." Nothing is known about the follow up on this from IT Department. RTI response reveal that Department has no information!

2. With regard to complaint against mobile tower at survey no.2/1, at Navelim, Divar minutes notes " The Collector suggested exploring options under the Goa Telecom Infrastructure Policy 2020 and involving Public Works Department (PWD) as permission issued by them". Again nothing is known about the follow up and IT Department of Goa has no information to share in response to RTI.

3. With regard to public opposition to mobile towers at Guirim and Kumbharjua that has halted construction work at both sites minutes notes "The Collector assured that all complaints regarding health hazards would be forwarded to the department of Telecommunications, Government of India, for necessary reports." Nothing is known as to what happened to the collector's assurance. How wise is the decision of Collector to approach Department of Telecommunications, Government of India instead of Ministry of Health, Government of Goa or Government of India?

4. With regard to Objections for Installation of Tower at Siridao, Palem by village Sarpanch herself minutes records "The Collector reiterated the plan to forward all health-related complaints to the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, for appropriate action and reports." Nothin is known about this decision even after one year later.

5. North Goa Collector herself suggested at the meeting that "Infrastructure Providers (IPs) conduct awareness camps at the village Panchayat level to educate residents about radiation-related health effects." Nothing is know about the implementation of this decision so far and IT Department has no information to share as per RTI response.

6. RTI response referred here is addressed to Shri Ashok Bablo Gawas dated 20/11/2024 by Prajeet Chodankar, Public Information Officer and Dy. Director (Admn.), Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Goa where reply is "NIL".

So one year later after the North Goa Telecom Committee meeting assurances of the Noth Goa Collector has remained without fulfilling. This indicated that there is crisis in Telecom governance in Goa and complete disregard to Public Health issues prompted by cellular ecosystem.

We need massive public involvement to set things right. You are encouraged to get involved to initiate grassroots moves at assert ourselves against being hoodwinked by cellular corporates. 

Ashok B. Gawas

Convenor, 

Goa Cellular Watch 

M: 9923272471