Locust control operations in full swing mainly in Rajasthan, Gujarat and MP in coordination with State Agricultural Departments, Local Administration and BSF

As on 21.06.2020, locust control has been undertaken in 114,026 hectare area in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

Locust control operations being carried out in with the help of vehicle mounted sprayers, tractors, fire tender vehicles and drones

The locust control operation is in full swing mainly in Rajasthan, Gujarat and MP. 62 spray equipments (21 Micronair and 41 Ulvamast) are being used by Locust Circle Offices while 200 employees of Locust Warning Organization are deployed for conducting survey and control work. Control room has been established in all 10 Locust Circle Offices and also at LWO, Jodhpur. Even beyond the Scheduled Desert Area, temporary base camps are set up, at Jaipur, Ajmer, Dausa and Chittorgarh in Rajasthan; Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh; and at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh for effective control of desert locust.

Presently the control work is in full swing with the cooperation and coordination of the State Agricultural Departments, Local Administration and BSF. Two locust swarms from Indo-Pak border areas are reported, one each in Bikaner and Sriganganagar district. Control operation is going on against these swarms. 

Everyday locust control operations are carried out in the morning hours with the help of vehicle mounted sprayers, tractors and fire tender vehicles. The control operations are conducted with cooperation and in coordination with concerned officials of district administration and State Agriculture Department. So far, the Rajasthan government has deployed total 2142 tractors and 46 fire brigade vehicles, Madhya Pradesh total 83 tractors and 47 fire brigade vehicles, Uttar Pradesh 4 tractors and 16 fire brigade vehicles, Punjab total 50 tractors and 6 fire brigade vehicles and Gujarat deployed 38 tractors for locust control. The immature locust is very active and mobile making it difficult to control the swarm at one location, due to which it takes 4 to 5 days to control at different locations to completely eliminate the locust population in one place. The yellow, mature adults appear tending to copulate in some areas.

Supply order for 60 additional sprayers is placed with M/s. Micron, UK. On May 22, 2020, a VC was organized in the UK with representatives from Micron, UK and Indian High Commission to discuss the details of the supply plan. 15 no. of equipment has been received and deployed for locust control. The delivery of remaining equipment is also scheduled in due course.

Government of India has also issued a supply order of 5 CD Atomizer kits with GPS Trackers for aerial spray capabilities from this UK based company. The first two kits will be available in September 2020 and the remaining 3 kits are to be made after one month of their successful testing. These kits will be fitted into helicopters of the Indian Air Force (as agreed by them) and will be used for air operations for control of desert locusts.

For effective control of locusts in inaccessible areas and on top of tall trees, use of drones is being explored. An e-tender was invited to provide services of drones for aerial spraying of pesticides. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has approved conditional exemption for locust control. An Empowered Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary, DAC&FW to assess and facilitate the possibility of aerial control capability as a locust control measure. On its recommendation, Work Order for engagement of drones has been issued to 5 companies on 06.06.2020. These companies have started work in Barmer, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Bikaner and Nagaur areas and so far 12 drones have been deployed.

Supply order has also been issued for purchase of 55 additional vehicles to strengthen the control capacity. 33 vehicles have been delivered and deployed in locust control operations.

The situation is monitored constantly by higher authorities and needful is being done on priority basis.

As on 21.06.2020, locust control has been undertaken in 114,026 hectare area in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The break-up of area treated is appended in the table.

District wise summary of control data (as on 21.06.2020)

Sl. No.	Name of district	No. of Spots	Area Treated (ha.)
	Ajmer	24	5339
	Alwar	2	185
	Barmer	144	19750
	Bhilwara	13	2505
	Bikaner	49	8564
	Bundi	2	235
	Chittorgarh	12	2235
	Churu	4	830
	Dausa	7	2135
	Hanumangarh	4	575
	Jaipur	12	2435
	Jaisalmer	74	10609
	Jalore	8	1444
	Jhalawar	1	205
	Jhunjhunu	1	60
	Jodhpur	103	16645
	Karauli	1	25
	Kota	3	505
	Nagaur	56	10490
	Pali	15	1985
	Pratapgarh	2	370
	Sawai Madhopur	1	130
	Sikar	5	1110
	Sirohi	3	560
	Sriganganagar	68	4875
	Tonk	2	425
	Udaipur	3	715
	Fazilka	20	640
	Banaskantha	7	225
	Kutch	10	560
	Mhesana	2	190
	Patan	2	55
	Sabarkantha	1	40
	Banda	1	100
	Hamirpur	1	90
	Jhansi	3	255
	Lalitpur	2	235
	Mahoba	2	170
	Prayagraj	2	170
	Sonbhadra	1	10
	Amravati	3	146
	Bhandara	4	410
	Gondia	3	470
	Nagpur	11	409
	Agar Malwa	4	292
	Anuppur	1	60
	Ashoknagar	13	895
	Balaghat	3	262
	Betul	6	201
	Bhopal	6	340
	Chhatarpur	9	485
	Chhindwara	9	156
	Damoh	6	472
	Dewas	5	210
	Dindori	1	7
	Guna	5	332
	Gwalior	2	120
	Harda	3	239
	Hoshangabad	2	150
	Jabalpur	2	37
	Khandwa	3	124
	Khargon	1	150
	Mandla	8	328
	Mandsaur	5	1075
	Morena	4	279
	Neemuch	9	1316
	Niwari	4	300
	Panna	4	185
	Raisen	4	88
	Rajgarh	6	152
	Ratlam	5	816
	Rewa	3	127
	Sagar	3	139
	Satna	14	565
	Sehore	3	147
	Seoni	3	187
	Shahdol	3	29
	Sheopur	5	223
	Shajapur	2	52
	Shivpuri	24	1566
	Sidhi	6	156
	Ujjain	5	1853
	Vidisha	10	713
	Kabirdham	4	82
		909	114026

Courtesy: pib.gov.in