Wild growth of congress grass, cannabis a cause for concern

Tribune News Service

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Patiala, October 22

Excess growth of congress grass and cannabis across the city continues to pose a threat to agriculture and health of residents, though the Municipal Corporation (MC) claims to have put the wild growth in check.

These weeds have grown densely and are a common sight in the areas, including the Government Rajindra Hospital, Sanjay Colony, near Government Medical College, various police stations, near Sheesh Mahal, near Guru Nanak Foundation School and government quarters among others.

Experts in the field of botany said the robust and aggressive congress grass had a lot of ill-effects on people’s health. Dr Munruchi Kaur, professor and head, Department of Botany, said the congress grass was hazardous waste that was growing all across the country.

“The pollen grain of the congress grass causes acute chronic problems, including bronchitis, asthma, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, common cold, pain in neck and even depression in people,” she said.

Meanwhile, residents said they had talked to the MC officials regarding the same, but to no avail. A resident of Harinder Nagar on Sirhind road requesting anonymity said, “We have talked to the civic body demanding timely cutting of the wild growth a number of times, but no one seems to be bothered about it.”