NGO blasts experts’ opinion on cancer prevalence in state

In the session,experts had stated that the quality of life and expectancy is much better in Punjab when compared with the national average. Kifestyle was a bigger threat than pesticides,as non-judicious use of it was the cause of the life threatening disease,they had added.

The NGO,in a statement,said: “There are no authentic figures of cancer cases with the health department.

“No data regarding the prevalence of the disease for 20 to 30 years exists. The only study conducted was by PGI,Chandigarh,which shows that prevalence in Malwa was double as compared to the rest of the Punjab.

“The analysis of the data showed that toxicity-related cancers were more as compared to tobacco-related cases.”

There are clear indications of genetic mutations and lowered immunity,which means that the number of cancer cases will increase even more in the future,the NGO stated. It added that the official version that 80 per cent pollution was caused by domestic waste was a lie being propagated to hide the criminal behavior of industries and politicians.

Umendra Dutt,executive director of the NGO,said several studies have indicted pesticides and synthetic fertilisers causing grave damage to human and animal health and environment.