Locust control measures taken in 9 states: Centre

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 14

The Centre on Tuesday said locust control measures have so far been carried out in about 3 lakh hectares in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Bihar.

Swarms of immature pink locust and adult yellow locust were active in Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jhunjhunu, Sriganganagar, Alwar and Churu districts of Rajasthan, Bhiwani, and Mahendragarh districts of Haryana and Sitapur; and Gonda districts of Uttar Pradesh, the Agriculture Ministry said.

No significant crop losses have been reported in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Haryana. However, some minor crop losses have been reported in some districts of Rajasthan, the ministry said.

From April 11 to July 12, control measures were taken in 1,60,658 hectares in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana by locust circle offices (LCOs).

Till July 12, 1,36,781 hectares in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Bihar were covered by respective state governments.

On the intervening night of July 12-13, control operations were carried out at 26 places in eight districts (Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Churu, Jhunjhunu and Alwar) of Rajasthan, one place in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh and at two places in Mahendragarh and Bhiwani districts of Haryana by LCOs.

State Agriculture Departments also carried out control operations at Bhiwani and Mahendragarh in Haryana and Sitapur and Gonda in Uttar Pradesh against small groups and scattered population of locust.

Sixty control teams with spray vehicles have been deployed in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh; and more than 200 Central Government personnel are engaged in control operations.

Twenty spray equipment have been received and are deployed for locust control. To strengthen the control capacity, 55 additional vehicles have also been purchased and deployed for locust control.

Five companies with 15 drones have been deployed at Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Nagaur and Phalodi in Rajasthan.

A Bell helicopter has been deployed in Rajasthan for use in Scheduled Desert Area. The Indian Air Force also has conducted trials in anti-locust operation by using a Mi-17 helicopter.