UP launches locust control operations in vulnerable areas

Amid swarms of locusts inving many areas in Jhansi and Sonbhra districts, local authorities swung into action, spraying crops with various chemicals and insecticide overnight in two districts, officials said on Thursday.

Filled in fire brige tankers, chemicals were sprayed in Moth and Garautha areas of Jhansi and Bemauri vill in Ghorawal tehsil of Sonbhra district on Wednesday night, y said.

In Jhansi, a large number of locusts was eliminated by spraying chemicals all through night but a smaller number of those which survived moved towards Pariksha near Jhansi on Thursday morning, said Deputy Director (Agriculture) Kamal Katiyar.

ir furr movement will depend on wind direction, he ded.

Senior officials, including those from a central team, were present during night-long operation and a close vigil is being maintained on furr movement of locusts, Katiyar said.

Two fire brige vehicles loed with insecticide were deployed in all four Jhansi tehsils, besides six vehicles being kept rey at district hequarter.

Ten municipal employees with two insecticide spray machines were posted in every block.

Locusts h earlier attacked some parts of Jhansi district on May 22 and 24.

In Sonbhra, a swarm of locusts reached Bemauri vill in Ghorawal tehsil on Wednesday night where a team of Agriculture Department officials sprayed chemicals till late night, killing a large number of insects.

District Agriculture Officer Piyush Rai said swarm reached vill in evening but as re were standing crops, damd was done by m.

"A team from Agriculture Department reached re at 11 pm and continued spraying chemicals till 1.30 am, killing insects in large numbers," he ded.

Chairing a review meeting on locust control in Luckw, Agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi said, "Locusts have divided in small groups in Rajasthan. Small swarm of locusts were controlled near Dausa (Rajasthan)."

"Agra district has to remain alert form locusts and in Jhansi, it was seen and it moved towards Mhya Presh. All teams are alert in state. We have issued directives on this regard to make people aware," he ded.

"We are alert and our teams will ensure that dam is t done to crops," he said.

Taking cognisance of matter, Chief Minister Yogi ityanath h on Wednesday issued directions to district magistrates of Jhansi, Lalitpur, Agra, Mathura, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Mahoba, Banda, Chitrakoot, Jalaun, Etawah and Kanpur Dehat.

At state-level, teams have alrey been formed and control rooms established to track movement of locusts. At district hequarter level, a dal officer has been appointed, and a task force and control room alrey set up.

Officials have been instructed to list elaborate details of danger posed by locusts and precautions that need to be taken, and sharing m through social media, and making m available to farmers and locals.

An visory was also issued to beat drums, tin containers, metal plates and create ise to shoo locusts in case of an attack. Officials of Agriculture Department have been told to coordinate with members of locust warning team, locals and farmers.