Hyderabad: Panjagutta police station has decided to distribute 30 gm of jaggery every day to traffic police personnel, to help them fight increasing pollution levels in the city. The packets of jaggery will be kept at the police station and the police personnel must take one every day after signing in, and before going on the field for work. There are 110 traffic police personnel in Panjagutta who work in three shifts.

Inspector Srinivas Rao said, “We have been requesting officers to have jaggery at home. Instead of following the advice, a list of excuses was being offered. As they stand at high polluting areas manning the traffic, their health gets affected. Ayurvedic doctors recommended that consuming jaggery will help build the immunity in the body.” For this reason, 6 kg of jaggery will be provided everyday to the police station for the officers.

Dr Anish Anand, general physician, said, “Jaggery is known to have lots of antioxidants and it helps to cleanse and detoxify the system. It is often recommended to factory and mine workers as well.”

Doctors, however, warn that diabetics must not be given jaggery. Dr Srinivas Rao, a diabetologist, said, “Those suffering from diabetes must not consume jaggery as it is a concentrated source of simple sugars. Also it is not recommended for obese individuals.”