Popping out of every nook and corner, the “Congress grass” may soon be weeded out. For the Punjab Government on Tuesday issued a notification declaring the parthenium weed, also known as ‘Congress grass’ or ‘carrot grass’, as ‘noxious’ weed. As per the decision, aimed at checking the degradation of the natural eco system, any land owner would be duty bound to carry out preventive or remedial measures to control the weed, failing which he was liable to be convicted with punishment — up to a sum of Rs250 or a simple imprisonment up to one month.
“The Government has issued notification under the provisions of ‘The East Punjab Agricultural Pests, Diseases and Noxious Weeds Act, 1949’ mandating that every occupier of land would take measures to eradicate this weed and prevent its spread or reappearance. The notification would remain in force till December 31, 2015,” said a spokesperson of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department.
It may be recalled that this weed has not only been degrading the natural eco–system in state but was also a potent cause of various diseases in humans and animals. “After declaration of this weed as noxious through a notification, any land owner would be duty bound to carry out preventive or remedial measures to control the weed, failing which he was liable to be convicted with punishment,” said the spokesperson. The punishment under the Act could be up to a sum of Rs250 or in default to a simple imprisonment up to a period of one month, he said.