Another Locust Threat Looms Large Over Odisha

Bhubaneswar: With the possibility of desert locust attack looming large over areas of Odisha bordering with Chhattisgarh again, the farmers are in a panic for damage to their crop as in the case of Chhati panchayat of Bharatpur block in Chhattisgarh.

According to reports, swarms of locusts have entered Bharatpur area of Koriya district in Chhattisgarh from Madhya Pradesh. On June 1 also, the locusts had come to the same place but returned as the people burst crackers and set fire to some areas.

Koriya’s district administration and agriculture authorities though have already taken preventive measures to thwart the swarms from spreading in the area.
“Following reports of locust incursion into Bharatpur, we have alerted fire fighters and kept spraying machines ready. Whenever we get reports of movement of locusts, the fire fighters spray pesticide to ward them off,” Koriya’s district commandant of locust enforcement team, Sekhar Golwalkar said.

Bharatpur MLA Gulab Kamro also expressed optimism in controlling the possible recurrence of attack by the migrator pests. “Scientists and agriculture department employees are monitoring the situation in the region. Last time, we had driven away a swarm of locusts and we are hopeful that they can be controlled this time too,” Kamro said.
However, the farmers in Sundergarh are gripped with fear as the district is barely 320 km from Koriya.