To “avoid and mitigate” the impact of electromagnetic radiation on living beings, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests issued an advisory last week on the deployment of mobile-phone and other communication towers.

The advisory follows a report submitted by an expert committee formed by the Ministry to study the possible impact on people, animals, birds and bees. The advisory, sent to the State governments, Union Territory administrations, the Department of Telecommunications and the Planning Commission, says the committee’s report indicates that electromagnetic radiation interferes with biological systems.