Telangana govt taking precautions to avert entry of locusts into state: CM

Telangana government on Thursday said it is taking all precautions to prevent locusts from entering state and officials have been instructed to keep pesticides rey at state's borders with Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who held a meeting with officials and scientists on issue of locust swarms, said Collectors and officials of districts in neighbouring Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh have been alerted.

Fire engines, jetting machines and pesticides have been kept rey as part of measures to deal with situation, an official release said. A five-member committee has been appointed to supervise measures to prevent locust swarms, which can wreck havoc in agriculture, from entering state, it said.

Officials informed Chief Minister that locusts are presently said to be moving towards Balaghat in Mhya Presh via Bhandara and Gondia in Maharashtra. locusts have entered country via Rajasthan, it said.

Experts estimate that locusts are likely to travel to rth India and move towards Punjab. However, re are some chances of locusts entering Telangana via Chhattisgarh if wind blows towards south, it said.

locusts are said to travel in direction of wind. "Though chances are less that locusts wouldenter state, CM, however, decided to take all precautions," it said.

Saying that large-scale efforts are on at Gondia to check locusts, Rao suggested that pests should be eliminated at state borders itself by spraying pesticides. five-member committee, appointed by state government, would camp at Ramagundam near Karimnagar for four days.

situation along Godavari river from ilab to Bhrachalam in Khammam district (bordering Andhra Presh) would be monitored by a helicopter. If swarm of locusts is traced, y will monitor measures to eliminate locusts, release said.

government directed that 15,000 litres of chlorpyrifos, malathion and or pesticides should be kept rey at borders of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. It also instructed that 12 fire engines and 15 jetting machines be kept rey.

state Chief Secretary, DGP and senior officials of agriculture, disaster manment and vice-chancellor of state agriculture university would monitor situation from time to time and hold consultations with governments of Mhya Presh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Steps would be taken accordingly, it said.

Meanwhile, when contacted, an official of Met centre in Hyderab said y have t me any prediction wher locusts would enter Telangana or t. However, its rar can capture movement if y do, official ded.

(Photo Credit: PTI)