NGT panel calls for Indian Council of Medical Research study of cancer in Gang canal catchments

Failing to find the source of a cancer epidemic in theGangcanals catchments, a joint committee formed by theNational Green Tribunal(NGT) has recommended engaging the Indian Council of Medical Research (Icmr) or a similar institute to check the canal water, farm , and pesticides for possible reasons.

This Irrigation canal inRajasthans Sri Ganganagar district is fed by the Satluj river passing through Punjabs Ferozepur, Faridkot, and Muktsar districts.

The raw water stored in the sedimentation tank is filtered and distributed to the public through after disinfection by chlorination. The water samples taken from January 2022 to February 2023 had no heavy Metal content, while the Bureau of Indian Standard (Bis) also found the chemical and bacteriological parameters to be within the permissible value.