Karnal, May 2
A Karnal-based rice miller along with a retired scientist has decided to launch next week a massive drive to weed out congress grass in the district with the help of sarpanches and farmers . Besides cleaning the places abounding in congress grass, they would sprinkle the seeds of mustard and marigold, which would germinate in the winter and monsoon season, respectively.
Congress grass has become a nuisance in fields, along roads, railway lines, grain market yards and water ways causing skin allergy and asthma, said Vijay Setia, a former national president of the All-India Rice Exporters Association.
Gian Parkash Bhargava, a retired CSSRI scientist, who has extended support to the project, told The Tribune that the roots of marigold and mustard emit toxins that can destroy congress grass.
Dharam Bir Yadav, a weed scientist, HAU Regional Research Station, Uchani in Karnal, said there were several other options like cassia tora, cassia occidentalias weeds (panwad in local dialogue), chenopodium ambrosoides weeds (jungli bathu), which could be used to eradicate Congress grass as these were not harmful to human beings and animals. —TNS
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