Haryana govt reports steady rise in cancer cases in Sirsa

Chandigarh: The Haryana government has reported a steady rise in cancer cases in Sirsa district over the past decade, even as it clarified that no scientific study has established a direct link between the cases and pollution in the Ghaggar or groundwater in the region. According to figures tabled in the Haryana legislative assembly by state health minister Arti Singh Rao, as many as 970 cancer cases were reported in Sirsa district from 2016 and 2025. While the state does not maintain a population-based cancer registry for the district, the district-level reports show a noticeable rise in recent years. The sharpest spike appeared in 2023, with 162 reported cases, more than double the 2016 figure.
Addressing concerns about a possible connection between cancer incidence and pollution in the Ghaggar, the minister informed the House that the health department had not conducted any study establishing such a correlation."In absence of population-based cancer registries, there is no district-wise authenticated data regarding cancer patients during the last 10 years in Sirsa district situated along and around the Ghaggar. There is no study conducted by the health department, Haryana, that suggests possible linkage between such cases and Ghaggar river/ groundwater pollution," the House was informed.The minister made this statement in the Assembly during the Budget session on Monday while responding to an unstarred question raised by MLA Shishpal Keharwala (Kalanwali) of Sirsa district.The government also confirmed that no investigation had been undertaken by the health department to test for heavy metals such as arsenic, uranium, or lead in the river water.In response to rising health concerns, the authorities have organized 61 health screening camps from 2022 to 2025 in villages located along the Ghaggar in Sirsa district. In the camp, a total of 2,639 people were examined and five cancer cases were detected during camps.Congress legislator Shispal Keharwala had asked for information about the district-wise authenticated data regarding cancer patients during the last 10 years in the areas of Sirsa district situated along and around the Ghaggar. He had also asked if there was any linkage between such cases and Ghaggar river/ groundwater pollution.Contamination of Ghaggar waterFor years, residents living along the banks of the Ghaggar have complained about contaminated river water and groundwater being linked to illness. The Ghaggar, a seasonal river flowing through Punjab and Haryana before dissipating in Rajasthan, has long faced allegations of industrial discharge and agricultural run-off. However, the department has now clarified that no formal study has been conducted establishing a causal link between cancer cases and pollution in the Ghaggar or local groundwater.Cancer data in SirsaYearData2016712017842018602019862020582021952022116202316220241232025115