Latehar DC exhorts people to eradicate destructive weed Parthenium
Pioneer News Service
Daltonganj
A grass concerns the district most. The district is a scheduled area Latehar. However its local bodies and champions of schedule 5 of the Constitution of India appear to be unaware of the dangers staring at the populace.
There is a lurking fear of invasive weed in Latehar. It’s Parthenium. It’s growing fast and days are not far off when this invasive grass will engulf the town Latehar.
The town Latehar will sink in the mesh of this grass if its citizens don’t rise to combat it before it’s too late warned sources.
Expressing deep concern for the enormous spread of the Parthenium in the town Latehar, deputy commissioner Sandip Kumar told this correspondent “There is hardly any space left where this invasive grass is not coming up. It’s everywhere. I am afraid if this grass doesn’t eat into the vitals of the town.”
“Jan Bhagidari may curb and contain this menace. Let sensible and sensitive citizens come forward to eradicate the grass.” opined the DC Latehar.
This deadly and destructive weed is a matter of serious concern for public health safety reitetated the DC Latehar. He has a piece of advice for the people who want to undertake the mission of eradicating the grass.
“Never hand pull the grass without gloves. Wear gloves. Put on mask. The grass is notorious for contact dermatitis” cautioned the DC.
“Parthenium grass is satirically called Congress grass too. Its Hindi version is Gajar ghas. But it’s never any Gajar. It’s all non palatable grass, harmful to human and livestock both” explained one environmentalist.
Explaining Congress grass the environmentalist R K Mohan of Daltonganj said “There was a massive food aid from US in the heyday of the Congress rule at the centre. This grass came then with the food consignment.”
Deputy director south division of Palamu tiger reserve Kumar Ashish too corroborating the version of the DC Latehar said”This grass is a big environmental hazard. It inhibits the growth of the surrounding vegetation and native plants.”
A single plant of this invasive weed can produce thousands of seeds which have a viability of 10 years or so said sources.
