The Industrial scenario of Ghaziabad in Western UP on the eastern side of river Yamuna and nearby Hindon River is posing serious concern to the environment. In the vicinity of industries, many important plants are found growing which are medicinally important. The effluents of industries have not only changed the morphology of plants but also their therapeutic properties. Therefore, an attempt has been made for comparative growth study of Achyranthes aspera Linn. under the impact of industrial effluents from three industries. The plant commonly known as Latjira, belongs to family Amaranthaceae, is a 1-3 m high, stiff, erect herb, commonly found as a weed throughout India upto 3000 ft. It is much valued in indigenous medicine. This is an important plant of Siddha and Ayurveda. For this investigation, three major industrial sites of Ghaziabad viz. Atlas Cycle Industry, Ester -India Chemicals and Magnum Paper Mill and apparently non polluted areas of villages Bayana and Dasana in district Ghaziabad, U.P. and ALTT Centre, Ghaziabad were selected.

In this study various growth parameters like height of plants, shoot length, root length and number of leaves/ plant were observed in industrial and controlled area. Results show a mark reduction in all the growth parameters studied but plants respond differentially in different industrial effluents.