Security Force Headquarters, Jaffna (SFHQ-J) on Tuesday (4) launched a well-coordinated drive to eradicate the spread of invasive Parthenium wild plants which has engulfed more than 747 acres of land in 10 Divisional Secretariats in the Jaffna peninsula.
This plant species, botanically called, Parthenium Hysterophorus took its roots in Jaffna after it was brought here by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in 1987, together with fodder brought for consumption of goats and sheep for meat as well as through IPKF military hardware.
Parthenium which causes various skin diseases and respiratory difficulties such as asthma and other oral diseases could even cause death to animals if it were eaten.
At the request of the public, the eco-friendly project to eradicate devastating Parthenium from Jaffna soil started at different locations on the instructions of Major General Udaya Perera, Commander, SFHQ-J and under the supervision of Commander 523 Brigade Brigadier Athula Marasinghe.
North and South America were the home for this plant which was spread to India in 1955. Residents in respective areas joined the Army in this environment-friendly project.
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