Punjab govt declares parthenimum as "noxious weed"

In a bid to check the degradation of the natural ecosystem, the Punjab government has issued a notification declaring parthenium weed as a "noxious weed".
The weed has been declared as noxious under the provisions of "The East Punjab Agricultural Pests, Diseases and Noxious Weeds Act, 1949", a spokesperson of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department said here today.
He said that the government has issued a notification mandating that every occupier of land would take measures to eradicate this weed and prevent its spread or reappearance.
This notification would remain in force till December 31, 2015.
The spokesperson said that this weed has not only been degrading the natural ecosystem in the state but is also a potent cause of various diseases in humans and animals.

"After declaration of this weed as noxious through this notification, any land owner would be duty bond to carry out preventive or remedial measures to control the weed, failing which he/she is liable to be punished.
"The punishment under the Act could be up to a sum of Rs 250 or in default to a simple imprisonment up to a period of one month," he added.