Locust attacks controlled at 383 places, drones used to monitor swarms: Rajasthan govt

Rajasthan, worst-hit state in India due to locust plague has controlled attacks in 1,16,091 hectares at 383 places after surveying 14,80,858 hectares, Agriculture Department of state government informed on Sunday. According to a report, department also allocated Rs 15 crores to combat locust attacks, report said.

Drones used by Dept to monitor locusts' movement

In a report, department said that first locust attack was witnessed in Jaisalmer and Sriganganagar districts on April 11 and latest attack was witnessed in Alwar district on May 30. report informed that department has granted 120 vehicles for surveillance, 45 vehicles, 800 tractors mounted sprayers, 3200 water tankers to control attack of locusts.

report said that disaster manment department has granted Rs 1.45 crore to District Collectors for activities to control attacks of locusts. Recently Agriculture Department used drones to monitor movement of locusts in Jaipur's Samode, ANI reported.

Central government has devised a plan to use drones and specialised imported machines against locusts which have started damaging crops in some states, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said last week. He said government is hopeful of completely repulsing attacks by locusts by September-end.

'We are hopeful...'

"A plan is put in place to use drones to fight off locusts which are damaging crops in some parts of country," Tomar said, ding that pesticides will be sprayed using drones.

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Speaking to reporters via video conference, he said some specialised machines will be imported by Central government. "Delivery of se machines was expected to start by June end. While some of m were expected to be delivered from England by w, y could t reach India due to coronavirus-induced lockdown," Tomar said.

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He said se machines would w be delivered by July-end. "y would help in rapid controlling of locusts," Tomar said. "We are hopeful to completely stop attacks by locusts by September-end," Tomar said.

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He also said that timely information on movement of swarms of locusts came handy for government and that efforts to contain flying pests have alrey started. Dam caused by desert locusts would be assessed by various state governments, which will send ir reports to Central government for compensation to farmers. Swarms of locusts h entered India from Rajasthan and flew to different states.

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(With ncy inputs)