Addicts have easy access to cannabis growing along roads

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 23

Presence of abundant congress grass (parthenium hysterochorus) along with sukha (cannabis sativa) and bhang (verbesina prostrata) pose a threat to agriculture and health of residents of the holy city. Besides, addicts have an easy access to sukha and bhang growing along road sides.

Full grown shrubs of these plants can be easily spotted on Court Road linking Ajnala Road, on GT Road stretch, near New Amritsar, Vallah Road, Majitha Road, Government Medical College, Railway Colony B-block and other parts of the city.

The administration has not attempted to remove the unwanted growth despite the fact that the state government had issued a notification in this regard on May 16 last year. The notification stated that the congress grass was injurious to agricultural crops and it was necessary to take measures to eradicate it. These were noxious weeds and were known to be used by addicts.

Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) president Kulwant Singh Ankhi said there was an urgent need to eradicate congress grass, sukha and bhang. He said, “These shrubs can be spotted on road sides, farms, pastures, besides vacant land and plots in the city.”

Congress grass was an invasive species, kept in the list of noxious weeds. Its outbreak had been almost as epidemic, which affected crop production, live stock and human health, he added.

He said the weed inhibits the growth process of crops like brinjal, tomato, beans etc. “Congress grass is also responsible for the production of bitter milk when eaten by the milch animals. It can also trigger pollen allergies in human beings,” he added.

He said, “The pollen grains produced in abundant quantity from flowers of congress grass causes air pollution, which is dangerous for patients of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. Besides, pollen grains cause skin problems.”

Sukha and bhang have also grown in abundance along with the congress grass. These have a bad effect on tissues of brain and other body parts. After consumption of sukha and bhang the metabolic rate of human body increases, which causes ailments and disease. It induces pseudo-hunger and reduces the digestive power of stomach. It is also used as intoxicant by drug addicts.

Due to warm and rainy season these weeds have grown densely on every inch of land. Area lying vacant in government hospitals, schools and other institutions is covered with these unwanted weeds. Experts opine that the best way to get rid of these noxious weeds is to uproot these. The growth of these plants is plenty after rains.