The Supreme Court Monday sought an explanation from major mobile phone operators over the construction of mobile phone towers in the country after an NGO pointed out the health hazards they could pose.

The apex court directed all the parties concerned to submit their explanations within the next four weeks.

The direction came in the wake of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Karma Jyot Seva Trust, an NGO, over the possible health hazards arising out of the mobile phone towers.

"These towers are a direct threat to people due to electromagnetic radiation (EMR), from them, which cause diseases like cancer. And we are happy that the court took note of our concern and passed the direction," said Sheetal Agarwal, the lawyer for the NGO.

"The PIL was filed after comprehensive research on its effect on the human body and had sought the intervention of the court for laying down certain guidelines or an appropriate scientific mechanism governing the installation of these towers," Agarwal added.

All leading mobile phone operators in the country, including state-run players like Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, have to file their explanation. The PIL was filed Aug 16.

Electromagnetic radiation poses health problems like sleep disturbance, dizziness, heart palpitations, headache, blurry sight, nausea, pressure on the breast, cramps, high blood pressure and cancer.