India, March 13 -- Ludhiana

Amid concerns that pollution from agricultural runoff could be contaminating Punjab's water and food chain, a scientific study, commissioned by the state government to examine the presence of heavy metals in soil, groundwater and agricultural produce, has been going on in full swing, PAU officials said.

Scientists from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), working in collaboration with the Punjab Biotechnology Incubator (PBTI), are analysing samples collected from multiple districts to assess whether toxic metals are entering the state's agricultural ecosystem.

The Rs.1.14-crore project, commissioned recently by the department of agriculture and farmer welfare, will run for 18 months and involves extensive f...