Administration readies plans to tackle locust attack in Chhattisgarh

As the country is battling the worst ever locust outbreak in recent times, the Chhattisgarh administration is taking all the precautions to tackle entry of swarms of locust. The agriculture department and farmers of districts bordering Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are on high alert.

Raipur (Chhattisgarh): India is battling the worst ever locust outbreak in recent times. The crop-destroying swarms first attacked Rajasthan and have now spread to few other states too.

In the wake of this, the Chhattisgarh administration is taking all the precautions to tackle entry of swarms of locust.

It is being speculated that the locusts can enter the state via Nandgaon and come to the border area of Lohara in Kawardha district.

The agriculture department and farmers of districts bordering Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are on high alert.

If locusts enter the district at night, insecticides will be sprayed to remove them, for this, the fire brigade has also been alerted. Agriculture centres have also been asked to keep a stock of pesticides, the official said.

Apart from these measures, the administration has also arranged DJ along with the silencer of the tractor so that locusts don't sit in the fields due to the noise. The farmers in border areas have also been asked to inform to the control room as soon as they see locusts entering the state, he said.

Besides, villagers have been advised to form groups and make noise by beating steel plates, tin boxes and sound-producing instruments to drive away the insects, the official said.

It is to be noted that local authorities have been asked to work in coordination for arranging pesticides and sprayers.