While the people in Goa, in general, have been opposing the installation of mobile towers, the younger generation seems to have resolved to support the move, in a bid for a better connectivity and access.
Herald’s visit to some of the elite educational institutes in the capital city threw more light as to why the tech-savvy younger generation were completely in favour of mobile towers, as they point out that there was no adequate data to support any particular health hazard caused to due to mobile tower radiation, while some claimed that it was extremely harmful.
“Being one amongst the generation that begins the morning and ends the night using the phone and internet, yes I currently have good internet services, speed and better connection in my locality. At the same time I feel that the construction of towers for the same in a residential area is extremely harmful on our health in terms of mutagenic effects,” said Poorva Prabhudesai, a student of Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Miramar
“If good internet connection is equal to having bad effect on our health which would lead to shorter life spans in future then I guess there is no use of having good internet and no life,” she added
During a brief interaction with our team at the college campus, students also pointed out that there was no decisive data or evidence yet to show that radiations from mobile phones or towers have adverse health or environmental effects in India.
“A section of experts and environmentalists to achieve their personal gain are spreading exaggerated rumours about radiations from mobile phone or towers based on some myth and falsehood and the people with any knowledge start believing them” said a student from Goa University, on the basis of anonymity
Students also revealed that India’s stringent measures against radiations from mobile phones or Base Tower Stations (BTS) are ten times more than the USA and other European countries, while claiming that the same countries would do away with it long back.
Internet is a network of networks which connects computers worldwide through the standardised communication protocols which can access information on any computer.
Another student from VM Salgaokar College of Law, Balkrishna Thali said a group of health experts and doctors have also come together on the same platform and dispelled fears of harmful effects of radiation from mobile phones and towers. If new mobile towers are not allowed to be installed, then lack of development shall surely happen.
America and Europe have mobile towers where the tele-density is much higher than in India, and it has been proved not to harm public health. Thus, this planned campaign against mobile towers is totally uncalled for, he added.
Some students speaking to our team expressed anger towards those people opposing the mobile towers in South Goa, claiming that people from South Goa get the poorest mobile connectivity, as compared to North Goa.
“I do not know why people believe in rumours. If a certain section of people do not want a tower the company should dismantle the tower and those people should remain disconnected from the entire world. How can they oppose mobile towers and what will they do in cases of emergency,” quipped Shubhum Naik, a student from Margao
