ICMR to study spurt in cancer cases in Punjab

CHANDIGARH - The union government has ordered a probe into recent reports about the presence of cancer-causing uranium in drinking water of various villages in Bathinda district of Punjab.

“It is seen that Bathinda had more concentration of cancer cases in the past. I have asked that a study be carried out in this matter,” said Jairam Ramesh, union minister of state for environment and forests, while talking to reporters here Monday.

He added: “The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) is conducting a special study and they will submit a report within the next three-four months. I will comment further on this issue only when I receive the report.”

Ramesh was the chief guest at the inaugural session of the sixth edition of three-day national meeting of state bio-diversity boards that began here Monday.

He said Punjab has received nearly 22 percent of the Rs.4,000 crore grant from the central government under the National Rivers Conservation Programme during the last few months.

“Punjab has received around Rs.800 crore to Rs.1,000 crore grant for the cleansing of rivers and setting up sewage treatment plants. Eight projects, worth Rs.215 crore, at Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Phagwara, Phillaur, Kapurthala, and Sultanpur Lodhi over Satluj river have been successfully completed,” he said.

“Besides, we have also given clearance to various water cleansing and sewage treatment plants worth Rs.500 crore, which will be established over Satluj and Beas rivers, in different parts of Punjab. Another project worth Rs.104 crore, over river Ghaggar, is still under our consideration,” said Ramesh.