Gandhinagar: Gujarat Assembly will discuss locust attack from Pakistan in farm fields of North Gujarat district Banaskantha as urgent matter of public importance on Monday, July 15.

The State government had started locust control room in Palanpur on 8 May to receive information from the ground. A whats app group has also been created for monitoring, reporting and updates.

The Centre had asked to take preventive actions through its letter dated 8 May. On 13 May, teams of field staff were formed for survey of locust. in five districts – Kutch, Jamnagar, Dwarka, Patan and Banaskantha. Tolerable number of locust is considered 10,000 in one hectare. Immediate actions are taken if they are more in number.

Locust presence was reported first on June 27 following which Agri director reached there and asked field staff for necessary steps. Later Melathio 96% ULV was sprayed in Suigam taluka’s Meghpura, Suigam, Padan and Bharadawa border areas by central government teams. Recently Agri minister Faldu also visited the affected area. According to central government’s plant protection officer MY Pathan, locust arrived here from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Control has been achieved at 9 places in Banaskantha district. These are yellow colod locust. They are fewer in number but their eggs can worsen the situation eventually. District administration has moved vehicles with sprayer pumps attached.

Locust menace was lastly reported in Gujarat in year 1993-94.

DeshGujarat