Kullu zila homestay ki daud me sabse aage

“Congress grass” causes vegetation-terrorism in Himachal

MANALI: Propagating from US to Maharashtra, then many other southern and northern states of India, the invasive and poisonous weed "congress grass" (parthenium) is now spreading unbelievably fast in Himachal Pradesh and causing “flora terrorism”.

According to experts, a plant of congress grass can produce over 20 thousand seeds and propagate with the help of wind, animals and human. Few of the plants of this poisonous species were sighted in the lower areas of Kullu 2-3 years back which now have multiplied into hundreds of thousands. Though the plant had recorded its presence in Mandi, Una, Bilaspur and some other low altitude districts of the state even before this, but the plant is spreading its roots towards upper areas of the state. In Himachal, this plant can be largely found on the roadsides.

Conservator of forests in Himachal forest department, Bhupinder Rana, who is observing the deadly growth of this weed for last three years, said, “This poisonous weed is spreading very fast in Himachal. I had observed presence of few plants by roadside in lower Kullu two years back and now it has occupied a large chunk of land which is matter of concern.” Rana said he and other employees of the department uprooted and destroyed parthenium plants from two hectare land around their office in Shamshi this August.

Locally known as gajar grass, parthenium causes respiratory and skin diseases among human while cattle maintain distance from this weed for its poisonous properties. Experts say if the weed invasion is in its primary phase, it can be eradicated manually by hands, otherwise it will start infesting other crops of the area. “We have approached some environmentalists and NGOs to join hand to destroy this poisonous weed, otherwise it may prove a menace in the state in near future as it impacts on human, crops and environment,” Rana said.

Starting from Mandi, congress grass (parthenium) can be seen upto Dhalpur, middle of the Kullu district, towards Manali. According to Rana, people of Himachal should join hands to stop this flora-terrorism. This weed has entered the forest land and vegetable farms in lower Kullu. Once it spread in all parts of the state, its complete eradication will be very difficult. According to a survey made by an independent organization, congress grass, which was first found in Maharashtra in 1956, is causing losses worth thousands of crores to the country by occupying lakhs of hectares of forest and arable land.