City offers reward to residents for clearing allergic grass

A reward is being offered in Ergune, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, for residents who clear Artemisia grass, a known allergen, according to a report by ThePaper.cn on Saturday.

Artemisia grass, which grows widely in Ergune, is recognized as a primary allergen causing allergic rhinitis. With July and August marking the peak pollen dispersal period for the grass, the city has intensified efforts to clear it to reduce its impact on allergy sufferers.

Since early June, Ergune has cleared over 300,000 square meters of Artemisia grass, amounting to nearly 5,300 metric tons, according to the local urban management comprehensive administrative bureau's statement on July 31.

In response to public concerns about Artemisia-related allergies and to improve the urban and rural living environment, Ergune announced additional efforts on July 31 to clear the grass. The city launched a campaign offering financial incentives for residents who help remove Artemisia grass in urban areas.

The campaign, which ran from July 31 to Aug 5, encouraged residents to transport the cleared grass from around residential buildings to designated dumping sites, where it was verified and exchanged for bonuses. Each kilogram of Artemisia grass was eligible for a reward of 1 yuan ($0.14).

Ergune is not alone in its efforts; other cities in Inner Mongolia, such as Hohhot and Baotou, have also undertaken initiatives to clear Artemisia grass. Between May 9 and July 10, more than 23,751 people in Hohhot were mobilized to clear 69,731 kilograms of Artemisia grass, covering an area of over 706,000 square meters, according to local authorities.

These initiatives aim to alleviate the impact of Artemisia pollen on residents and enhance overall living conditions.