Punjab govt prepares plan to remove noxious weed

Punjab Government has drawn up a comprehensive plan to eradicate 'lantana camara' a noxious weed posing a major threat to forest cover in the state.

The project would be completed within three years, Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat said today.

The plan was drawn up after after a survey pointed out that spread of the weed in forest areas may have been responsible for loss of over 500 sq km of state's forest cover.

The weeds possess serious threat to resurgence of forests if established in the forest ecosystem as each plant puts out up to 12,000 seeds which can remain dormant up to 11 years and germinate faster if exposed to smoke.