Faridkot: The state government had acquired large chunks of land for some specific projects many years ago. With the government failing to implement the projects, the land at many places has become a cause of protracted litigation. The original owners of the land, mainly farmers, want it back as its market value has increased manifold.

For instance, in 1977-78, the Education Department had acquired about 22 acres along the Kotkapura-Faridkot road for the construction of a B.Ed college. That time, it was a waterlogged area and the farmers readily agreed to give their land.

Still not included under a national programme for prevention of the disease. The alarming rise in cancer-related deaths in Malwa saw Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, during his recent visit to the state, including Bathinda, Hoshiarpur and Mansa districts under a national programme for prevention and control of the disease. But, Muktsar district, where around 1,100 deaths have been reported in the last 10 years, continues to be neglected in terms of steps to detect or prevent the disease.

Move comes after NHRC intervention

Following directions of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Punjab Government has banned the manufacture, import and use of carcinogenic pesticides, which according to reports, caused cancer among the small farmers in the Malwa region that consists of Southern districts — Bathinda, Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Sangrur and Mansa.

NEW DELHI: Less than 72 hours after the Supreme Court threatened to scrap the National Green Tribunal as it was starved of office space and residential accommodation for its chairman and members, the Union government on Monday said it would make amends within three weeks. On Friday, a bench of Justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya had pulled up the lackadaisical approach of the government in making NGT operational.

The fact that ground water in Malwa, a southern area of Punjab, has traces of uranium in its ground water was established even in the past. A recent report presented by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) to the Punjab and Haryana high court has re-established this fact.

Muktsar: Despite the fact that at least 1,100 persons have died of cancer in Muktsar district alone in the past 10 years and the disease is spreading its tentacles at an alarming pace, the health authorities have not planned any awareness camps for the World Cancer Day tomorrow. The poor and rich both have been afflicted by the deadly disease. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal lost his wife Surinder Kaur to cancer last year. Former CM Harcharan Singh Brar’s son Kanwarjit Singh Brar “Sunny”, MLA Muktsar, is also reportedly suffering from the disease.

Faridkot is a highly political sensitive constituency. The old Faridkot district, consisting of Moga, Muktsar and Faridkot, has given the state three chief ministers, besides former President late Gian Zail Singh, too, belonged to this district. Despite this, the people of the area have been struggling to get quality drinking water. With groundwater containing high fluoride contents and the water supplied by Sirhind Feeder Canal is known for heavy toxic metals, safe drinking water is the main demand of Faridkot voters.

Cites an ‘exhaustive’ survey conducted by govt in affected areas; PTU expert rubbishes claim
Disparaging reports linking high prevalence of cancer to brackish water in Malwa belt of Punjab, Chief Secretary SC Agrawal has said a Health Department report had found that there was no link between water and the disease.

As many as 1,159 patients have been tested positive for dengue so far throughout the state. Of these, 447 persons have been tested positive in Ludhiana district, 358 in Bathinda district and 239 in Muktsar district. However, as per official records, only three dengue deaths have been reported so far.

Dr JP Singh, director, Health Services, said he had been ordered by the CM and the Health Minister to assess the situation in Bathinda, Ludhiana and other districts.