The Number of cancer patients is on the rise in Haryana as the state as the total number of patients has reached 1,678 in 2023 from 1,486 patients in 2019.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Pratap Rao Jadhav in a response of a question in Lok Sabha in response of a question by the Congress MP Kumari Selja revealed that Haryana has reported 1,486 cancer cases in 2019, 1,536 in 2020, 1,580 in 2021, 1,630 in 2022, and 1,678 in 2023.
On whether the polluted water flowing in the river Ghaggar was responsible for the surge in cancer cases in the state, the minister told the House that the water of river Ghaggar was not found fit for drinking and even for taking bath. “The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has informed that the analysis of water quality monitoring results of river Ghaggar in the state of Punjab and Haryana for the year 2023 reveals that River Ghaggar is found non-complying notified Primary Water Quality Criteria for Outdoor Bathing at all the monitored locations in the state of Punjab and Haryana for the year 2023. Also the Haryana State Pollution Control Board has found the water of Ghaggar River not fit for drinking”, reads the reply.
According to the minister, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan, sewage treatment capacity of 15 million litres per day (MLD) was created in different towns in Punjab for conservation of Ghaggar river. Even the Punjab Pollution Control Board has informed that to treat waste water from the towns in the catchment of river Ghaggar, 28 STPs of total capacity 291.7 MLD have been installed. While the Haryana State Pollution Control Board has informed that sewage treatment capacity of 588 MLD has been created in river catchment in the State under the Ghaggar Action Plan.
About the facilities being provided to the cancer patients the minister revealed that the Cancer care facilities are available in Government Medical Colleges in district Hisar, Karnal, Nuh, Sonipat and Rohtak. Also comprehensive cancer care services are provided in National Cancer Institute, Bhadsa district Jhajjar and Atal Cancer Care Centre (ACCC) has been established at Sub Divisional Civil Hospital (SDCH), Ambala Cantt. The minister told the house that the cancer treatment in government institutions is either free or subsidized and financial assistance is provided to poor patients.
However, Kumari Selja alleged that the People living near the Ghaggar River, which flows through several districts of Haryana, face a high risk of cancer. The river’s water has become so polluted that it is neither fit for drinking nor bathing and polluted water is contributing to cancer, with the number of cancer patients increasing every year, she alleged.
