Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday reviewed the locust control operations with Ministers of State Parshottam Rupala and Kailash Choudhary and senior officials of the ministry, according to an official statement.
As on date, there are some active swarms of immature locusts in Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner, Suratgarh, Dausa districts of Rajasthan, Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh and Rewa, Morena, Betul, Khandwa districts of Madhya Pradesh and Nagpur and Amravati districts of Maharashtra for which the control operations are in progress.
Today, there is no information regarding entry of any new locust swarm from the Indo-Pak border areas
On May 26, a locust swarm entered from Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan and control operation is going on against these swarms. Expressing concern about the issue, Tomar said the government is dealing urgently with it.
The Centre is in close touch with the affected States and an advisory has been issued. 15 sprayers will start arriving from Britain in the next 15 days, he said
Besides, 45 more sprayers will be procured in a month or one-and-a-half months. Drones will be used to spray pesticides on tall trees and inaccessible places for effective control of locusts, while plans are afoot to deploy helicopters for aerial spray, the minister said
Tomar said 11 Regional Control Rooms have been established and special contingents have been deployed along with additional manpower to check the spread of locusts. He assured the affected states will be allocated additional resources and financial aid if required.
Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal said 21 micronair and 26 Ulvamast (47 spray equipment) in Locust Control Offices (LCOs) are being used for locust control and 200 officials are deployed.
Beyond scheduled desert areas, temporary control camps have also been set up at Jaipur, Chittorgarh, Dausa in Rajasthan; Sheopur, Neemuch, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh for locust control. Locust has been controlled in an area of about 50,468 hectares in 334 locations in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Ministry of Civil Aviation has approved “Conditional exemption to Government entity (DPPQS) for use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System for anti-locust operations” on May 21 and in accordance with this order, two firms have been finalized through tender for use of the drones for spray of pesticides for Locust control.
Meanwhile, supply order for procurement of additional 55 vehicles has been placed to strengthen the control potential. Adequate stock of Pesticide is being maintained (53,000 litres Malathion) with Locust Control Organizations, he said
Under Sub-mission on Agriculture Mechanisation, assistance for 800 tractors mounted spray equipment has been sanctioned for Rajasthan costing Rs 2.86 crore. Also, under RKVY sanction for hiring of vehicles, tractors and for purchase of pesticides has been issued for Rajasthan worth Rs 14 crore.
Under RKVY sanction for purchase of vehicles, spray equipment, safety uniform, android application and training has also been issued for Gujarat at a cost of Rs 1.80 crore.
A committee under the chairmanship of the Additional Secretary of the Department has been constituted to procure services & goods for spraying insecticides through drones and airplanes.
