Telangana is already reeling under the devastating effects of the Novel Coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown. Even as the state is limping back to normalcy, yet another major threat is lurking in the form of locust swarms.
After ravaging thousands of hectares of farmlands and crops in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, the locusts are moving in swarms towards Telangana through the neighbouring states, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Anticipating the massive threat to the state’s agriculture sector, the Telangana government is all geared up to combat the locust invasion.
Yesterday evening, CM KCR held a high-level meeting with the Agriculture and Forest Department officials and directed them to be on high alert. The CM has set up a 5-member committee comprising Mancherial Collector, Ramgundam CP, a plant protection officer, Agriculture University principal scientist and Conservator of Forest to take necessary measures to kill the locusts as soon as they cross the border.
12 fire tenders and 12 jetting machines would be spraying over 15,000 litres of Malathion, Chlorpyrifos and Lambda Cyhalothrin to kill these flying creatures at the borders of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Starting today, the committee would be monitoring the situation from Ramagundam, Adilabad and Bhadrachalam through helicopters.
After attacking crops in Bhandara and Gondiya in Maharashtra, the locusts are now moving towards Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat and may enter Punjab next. And if the air direction is southwards, then the locusts may cross Chhattisgarh and then enter Telangana.
