Following directions from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in respect of growing cancer incidence on account of indiscriminate use of pesticides in Punjab, the state government has banned the manufacture, import and use of pesticides injurious to health. Responding to the NHRC orders, the Punjab Government has informed the commission that it has “banned the manufacture, import and use of pesticides which are very injurious to health, withdrawn registration of some such pesticides and restricted the use of other hazardous pesticides.”

Women in the Malwa belt of Punjab are facing the threat of breast cancer, if one goes by the reports compiled by Roko Cancer, a UK-based organisation. It has been conducting free mammography tests in collaboration with several NRIs and the state Health Department in the state.
In the last around five years, Roko Cancer organised 700 cancer detection camps and checked over a lakh women, of which 16,000 underwent mammography. Reports found 950 women suffering from breast cancer in the state. Besides, there were over 2,000 suspected cases.

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.

Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda): Karnail Singh suffers from renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer. A resident of Jajjal village in Punjab’s Malwa region that has produced maximum number of CMs including SAD’s Parkash Singh Badal and Congress’ Amarinder Singh, Karnail would be expected to have access to considerable medical facilities in the region. Instead, the 70-year-old has to travel to Bikaner in Rajasthan which has the nearest affordable cancer hospital.

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.

The Central University of Punjab has set up a state-of-the-art DNA sequencer on its city campus here for advanced research in the field of cancer.

The uranium content in the drinking water has increased alarmingly in the Malwa region and has crossed earlier levels detected during various findings.

This has come to light during a recent survey conducted in the parts of Malwa region by the team of research students led by Dr Jaspal Singh, Reader, Department of Physics, Guru Nanak Dev University here.

Chandigarh, January 13
Refusing to close its eyes to the ailing cancer cure facilities in Punjab

Ferozepur: In a significant development, which will improve the irrigation system, the state government has sanctioned funds to the tune of Rs 23 crore for cleanling up all canals and distributaries crisscrossing the state.

Due to choking of canals and its distributaries in absence of cleanliness, the breach in their banks has become a common occurrence in different parts of Malwa region.

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