Issue 55 Vol III, January 15, 2008

E N V I R O N M E N T

Slow and collective suicide: Environmental Health Crisis in Punjab

IN the land of five years, sorry two and half rivers, the water that excelsior of life is contaminated in fourth fifth areas of Punjab. Studies reveal that the ground water is not fit for drinking.  Milk, vegetables, fruit, grains and pulses bear the over doze of chemicals, pesticides and insecticides. The state is not only highest in the production of wheat and rice; it also has more cancer than equally placed provinces of Punjab. Umendra Dutt, an indefatigable campaigner against pollution and contaminated food wants Punjab to return to organic farming using modern technology. He is increasingly being accepted by the farmers and the conscious elements in society as the chemical industry threatens to choke his vice. Here is a summary of the deliberations where 180 experts met to debate this grave crisis.

The environment of Punjab has been badly polluted by the excessive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in agriculture; by throwing untreated water of city sewers and industries containing highly poisonous substances like pesticides, heavy metals and other chemicals into the water bodies like canals and rivers. Such contamination has affected groundwater too. The soil, water and air have been thoroughly poisoned throughout the state.

A Convention of 180 doctors, veterinarians, agriculture scientists, economists, researchers, intellectuals, social activists, NGO representatives and farmers held Ludhiana, in January, 2008 on the issue of "Environmental Health Crisis in Punjab ". The convention also discussed alternative models of sustainable agriculture being tried successfully in many states of India.

There is ample evidence to show that highly poisonous pesticides, heavy metals and other chemicals present in the soil and water are causing serious health damage. The prevalence/ severity of some of the old infectious diseases are increasing, probably due to effects on human immune system. This is particularly true of viral diseases such as common cold, herpes zoster, Hepatitis-A and Dengue Fever etc. Tuberculosis is becoming more severe and Multi Drug Resistant.

Newer diseases which are more dangerous and life threatening are coming up in a big way such as Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C, Hepatitis-E, HIV, SARS, Bird Flue and Chikungunya. Some of the parasitic and fungal diseases are also becoming more prevalent/severe such as scabies, fungal infections of skin and nails etc. Non-infectious diseases are seen to be in an epidemic form such as Hypertension, Coronary Artery   and other blood vessel diseases, Diabetes Mellitus, Bones and Joints diseases; Neurological Disorders particularly Peripheral Neuropathies, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinsonism; Psychiatric Disorders, violence of all types, Skin Disorders, Auto-immune and Allergic Disorders, Cancers, Reproductive System Disorders [falling sperm count, increasing incidence of Spontaneous Abortions, increasing prevalence of Congenital Malformations, Mental Retardation and Cerebral Palsy, Menstrual Disorders, early onset of puberty in females and delayed onset of puberty in males, erectile dysfunction in males].

Other living beings are also dying en masse and a large number of species is getting eliminated because of unfavorable conditions. The species higher up in the food chain are more affected because of the phenomenon of bio-accumulation/ bio-magnification of toxins.

It was unanimously felt that the rise in the prevalence and severity of these diseases and en-masse killing of other species is directly or indirectly related to the presence of environmental toxins in excessive quantities and the model of agriculture being followed after the onset of green revolution.

The initiative of the Punjab Pollution Control Board to sponsor the study taken up by Dr. J. S. Thakur and his team in the Community Medicine Department, PGIMER, Chandigarh is most welcome. This study, which is the first of its kind in Punjab, has proven that there is much cause for concern in Punjab regarding the environmental health status of its people. This study has observed that even genetic mutations are being caused by the toxins present in the water and soil of Punjab. This means that not just the current generation but the future generations too are going to suffer from the ill effects of a chemically-contaminated Punjab.

The current situation is all the more striking, given that alternative models of organic/ natural farming have already been proven to be better and more sustainable than the existing model of chemical agriculture. These models are not just sustainable – contrary to a popular myth, the productivity of farming in the ecological models does not decline, except probably in the first couple of years. The scientists of PAU are urged to study alternative models and adapt them immediately even as they conduct further research into it. Punjab Government should ask its Agriculture Department to study and immediately launch a pilot project with the active involvement of NGOs involved in natural farming.

Pesticide consumption in Punjab, which is dangerously high in the state (18 % of national consumption with only 1.5% of India’s land), should be brought to 0% within the next 5 years, thus shifting Punjabi farming to LEISA (Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture).

The Government should constitute a 'Punjab State Environment Commission' as a statutory body. The proposed Environment Commission would be the first of its kind in India. This shall work as the highest agency for all issues related to environment and natural resources. The commission should be empowered to act as per the needs of the environment and to protect the environmental rights of people of Punjab to get clean air, pure water, safe and nutritious food and for the preservation of the natural, historical, aesthetic, cultural and spiritual beauty and values of the environment.

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Endangered Hangul Deer
Ajmer Alam Wani

THE Hangul Deer or Kashmiri Stag, which is an endangered species of Red Deer, are finding a safe haven at Dachigam National Park near Srinagar despite heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir Valley.

Due to the special arrangements made by the wildlife department for the Hangul, one of the most famous animals of Jammu and Kashmir, are comfortable.

The only surviving race of the Red Deer family of Europe in the Sub-Continent is Hangul and Hangul Stags are prized for their magnificent head of antlers, which have 11 to 16 points.

According to studies the number of Hanguls in the world has dwindled from 2,000 in 1947 to less than 200 at present.

In the past, Jammu and Kashmir had a large and vibrant population of Hangul Deer but environmental pressures caused by hunting and loss of habitat from deforestation and dam projects has significantly curbed the wild population of Hangul Deer.

Hangul is now an endangered animal and is listed as an endangered species in the Red Data Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

After heavy snow that covered their summer homes in the higher reaches resulting into food scarcity, these deer are compelled to take shelter in the Dachigam National Park.

However, soon after the first snowfall in the Valley, special arrangements have been made for their meal----willow sticks and salts besides security by the Forest Department as they had been anticipating such a migration.

Jammu and Kashmir does have one reserve and conservation area for Hangul Deer, the Dachigam National Park, also home to a diversity of wildlife---Black and Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Leopards and migratory birds. A Trout Fish Farm is also in the Park.

The dense forests of Dachigam offer a brilliant view alongwith a Glacier fed rivulet flowing right through the middle.

Like other environmental problems in Jammu and Kashmir, armed conflict of the last 18 years has also caused terrible pressures on the wild population. In Dachigam National Park, the Indian army and armed resistance groups had been reportedly slaughtering the rare Kashmir Stag for provisions and food.

In the first three years of military operations alone at least 400 Kashmiri Stag have been reportedly killed. The Hangul Deer is now only spotted in the northern regions and its population is reduced severely. The isolated Gurez Valley is known to still have a large Hangul Deer population in the wild but a proposed dam project, places this population under threat.

The need of the hour is that habitat protection, captive breeding, stiff penalties for poachers and public education must be undertaken to save the Hangul Deer.

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