Report by Amarnath Parida; Jagatsinghpur: While the people are living in panic due to epidemic of Swine flu , the rise of harmful weed ‘Parthenium’(Gajar) has become threat to human, animal and crops in costal districts including Jagatsinghpur after super cyclone bringing serious concern among the environmentalists and farmers . Meanwhile so they have urged to destroy it or to give awareness about harmful effect among the general public, other wise the situation will be worsened in future.

After super cyclone, one type grass called Parthnuim weed (parthneuim hysterophorus) popularly known as carrot or congress grass and Gajar in this locality has been developed in different areas of Jagatsinghpur district. Though this grass has been considered as harmful for both human and animal being as well as to pollute environment the concerned department has started awareness in Subranpur, Boudha, Anugul , Dhenkanal and other districts of Orissa about harmful impact but no steps have been taken by either district administration or agriculture department in this district to create public awareness about the this grass. Rise of harmful grass has brought panic among the local people in which people including farmers; environmentalists have urged to destroy it for the safety of human and animal being.

Sources said that this grass was firstly introduced in USA along with wheat seeds in early fifties. This grass has been widely spread in this locality as well as other parts of this state in alarmingly. These harmful weeds have been seen at industrial areas of Paradip town, Cuttack – Paradip, Cuttack- Jagatsinghpur and other road sides, Cuttack – Paradip railway tracks, forest lands, and other waste lands of this district. Environmentalist cum secretary of Sabujima Paribesh Samiti, Balikuda Mr Amarprasad Mohanty has expressed that this harmful weeds has been seen in Balikuda ,Erasama and industrial areas of Paradip town but no steps have been taken to destroy it because it has affected the human being by causing skin diseases and other diseases to animals . He informed that the milk production of cow will be decreased after consuming this poisonous grass. He alleged that many people have complained about the low production of milk while report has come about death of cows after eating it.

It is an annual herbaceous plant, up to one meter height , leaves resembling like that of carrot , irregularly dissected , seeds easily spread by wind , rain and traffic activity . It completes three to four cycles in a year producing large number of seeds (5000 to 8000) per plant. Mr Mohnaty has claimed that this seeds has come to costal district due to heavy wind and rain during last super cyclone. Similarly, project coordinator, Weed Control Project, OUAT, Bhubaneswar Mr Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra has explained that it would affect both human & animal being and also crops. He said that this weed competes with crop plant and adversely affects the germination and growth of the latter. Its pollens shed the flowers of solanaceous vegetables tomato, chili, brinjal and inactivates nitrogen fixing bacteria pulses due to secretion of a chemical substances (sesquiterpene lactones). It pollens float in air and create eczema, asthma, hay fever (kalazar), and dermatitis among human being. It is poisonous, allergic and aggressive and has become threat to environment & bio -diversity. Besides this, it also affects animal beings so cows and goats will affect dermatitis by consuming it. Their milk becomes bitter and longer feeding to bring death to them. – Mr Mishra warned.

Locals have alleged that production of milk has been decreased and the taste of Milk has been reduced without reason but veterinary officials are unknown about the cause of diseases. So environmentalist Mr Mohanty has expressed consummation of this weed has caused no taste and reeducation of milk produce of many cows in this locality. Similarly, hundreds of people have been affected by skin diseases by contacting with this grass after cyclone so medical doctor are not conscious about this matter. Programme coordinator, Krushi Bigyan Kendra, Jagatsinghpur Mr Siba Prasad Singh has expressed that this weeds have seen abundantly in different areas of Jagatsinghpur district so steps should be taken to destroy it. Though, we have given awareness about the impact of grass but it is not sufficient for the local people. He has warned that rise of this weed would bring harm in future. He said that this grass has yet noticed in crop field in this district. Interestingly District Agriculture Officer Mr Raghunath Dash has expressed that department has consulted with weed experts to know its effect to human and animal beings as well as crop and to take steps to give awareness about this grass.