Guwahati, March 10: An excessive use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides is leading to a rise in cancer cases in Assam, health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said today.

Sarma made the statement in the Assembly after BJP legislator Ganesh Kumar Limbu drew the minister's attention to an increasing number of cancer cases in the state.

Cancer cases in the state rose from 24,846 in 2011, to 25,119 in 2012, 25,391 in 2013 and 25,663 in 2014.

The minister said an excessive use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers by farmers is taking a toll on the people's health and causing diseases like cancer. Scientific studies have proven this.

Sarma proposed the formation of an inter-departmental committee of the health and agriculture departments to address this problem.

"As Assam imports many food items from other states, we require a national policy to regulate the use of fertilisers and pesticides. We will bring it to the notice of the Union health ministry," he said.

Harmful chemical fertilisers and pesticides are being used to grow crops and artificial ripening agents such as calcium carbide are being used to ripen fruits like mangoes and bananas. Artificial colours are being used in fruits such as watermelon, papaya, pomegranates and vegetables such as capsicum, carrots, tomatoes and so on. These chemicals are said to be carcinogenic and also interfere with the digestive system, causing peptic ulcers.

BJP legislator Pranab Kalita today raised the issue of the alleged use of formalin, a toxic and carcinogenic chemical commonly used to preserve bodies in mortuaries, to prevent fish from decomposing during transportation.

"It is a major cause of concern for us as Assam imports a large quantity of fish from other states. Moreover, some other harmful chemicals are also reportedly being used to grow more and bigger fish," said Kalita. He sought an inquiry into this matter and fisheries minister Parimal Suklabaidya agreed.

Suklabaidya said Assam imported 14,825 metric tonnes (MT) fish during 2015-16. He said the figure was 12,830MT in 2013-14 and 12,531MT in 2014-15. He said Assam imports fish mostly from Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

He said a restriction has been imposed on fishing during the breeding season, which is from April 1 to July 15, to increase the number of indigenous fish species in waterbodies and rivers of the state.

"In the budget, the establishment of a live gene bank has been proposed in coordination with State College of Fisheries at Raha for the conservation of local species of fish," the minister said.