With the sex ratio in Punjab in dismal figures, the state's Health Department announced on Monday that all ultrasound centres across the state would be put under surveillance.

"891 girls per 1,000 boys as per civil registration system in January 2017 is a matter of serious concern," Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said here in a statement. "The Punjab government has framed a comprehensive policy to check the lower count of a girl child born per 1,000 boys' births by ensuring the proper implementation of a total ban on the pre-diagnostic tests. 

"The Health Department has issued set of strict instructions by which all the ultrasound centres would put under 24x7 online surveillance while the police verification of doctors and other staff posted at such centres has been made mandatory," he said, regretting that the sex ratio of the state could not be improved as per the set targets.

"The Punjab government has considered the ever decreasing sex ratio a serious blot on the face of the state," said Mohindra.

"Instructions down the line to the all and sundry in health paraphernalia of the state have been issued by which it has been made categorically clear that, henceforth, any iota of laxity in any reported case of female foeticide and in pre-diagnostic tests would now be considered as criminal conspiracy on the part of the erring," the minister said, adding that the officials found indulging in such inhuman crimes against humanity would be severely dealt with.

He said that despite announced rewards in the past, health officials were hardly getting information about illegal sex determination tests by ultrasound centres. "Such a sordid state of affairs in the Health Department is clear indication that the previous government has done nothing but lip service," he pointed out.

He said that the police department has also been asked to fully cooperate with the Department to ensure the compliance of the law.