A noxious weed has its uses
Raju William
Tribune News Service

Dehra Dun, November 1
After various means of eradication and control of the noxious weed-
parthenium hysterophorus, commonly known as congress grass, failed in
the country the scientists of Forest Research Institute (FRI) here
have finally evolved a high-value end use of it in the form of
handmade paper, particle and fibreboards.

The commercial viability of these products however is yet to be tested
but this aspect calls for a serious consideration at the government or
NGO-level, given the scale of the menace and failure of the widespread
campaigns against it all over the country. Especially so, because the
end products are free of allergic behaviour that this weed is
notoriously known for.

"We have not experienced any allergic properties after processing the
weed into bio-composites at the temperature of 150°C and high
pressure," said DP Khali, an expert of composite wood, who along with
Sanjay Nathani worked on the three-year-long project commissioned by
Department of Bio-Technology (DBT), Delhi.

The project was taken up as earlier efforts to eradicate the weed
through biological, chemical and manual ways had failed. So the idea
of finding its economic use came up. The efforts of the FRI scientists
have showed that the products can have plenty of use like false
ceilings, partitioning, table tops and cabinets. The findings of the
study will be presented at Bhartiya Vigyan Sammelan to be held at the
end of this month at Bhopal.

Though Khali said the commercial part of the products' viability was
beyond their domain and was to be explored by the related experts, on
the face of it, the procedures evolved by the scientists suggest it
may suit the small-scale and cottage industries.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071102/main7.htm