Punjab may be seen as the food bowl of the country, but the state is paying a heavy price for it. The harmful effects of the indiscriminate, unchecked use of carcinogenic pesticides can already be seen with an alarming increase in the number of cancer-related deaths and other debilitating diseases.

This was one of the major issues discussed at the ‘Multilogue on Sociopolitical Response to Environmental Toxicity, Health, Agriculture and Ecological Crisis in Punjab’ -- a two-day seminar which began on Friday at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID).