The Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has instructed the official machinery concerned to be on high alert once again as there is a danger of swarms of Locust attacking. He said that measures are taken on a war footing to protect the state from the possible attack from the Locusts.
Last month the swarms of Locusts, who have entered the country in three phases, have come up to Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. But they did not come upto the Telangana state. But a swarm of Locusts have come near the state recently. The Locusts are now at Azmi village near Ramtek in Maharashtra state, which is about 200 KMs away from our State. If the locusts travel towards the South, they will reach our State within a short span of time.
Against this background, the CM held a review meeting on Wednesday at Pragathi Bhavan measures to be taken to protect the state from the possible attack by the Locusts. The CM obtained the latest information on the location and movement of the Locusts. It was clear that if the swarms of Locusts travel south, it would be a danger to the State. Meanwhile, the experts pointed out that there is a possibility of Locusts hitting the state anytime between June 20 to July 5. Around that time Monsoon crops season would begin in Telangana State. Crops will have sprouts by then. If Locusts attack, there will be largescale loss, as they would eat way the tender crop. Hence, the CM instructed that strict measures should be taken so that Locusts would not enter the State. Minister Satyavathi Rathod, Government’s Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, Principal secretary (Agriculture) Janardhan Reddy, Agriculture University Vice Chancellor Praveen Rao, CMPMC Plant Protection officer Ms R Sunitha, Agriculture University senior Scientists Rahman, Rythu Bandhu state President Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, CMO Principal secretary Narsing Rao and others participated.
Alert in eight districts
The CM instructed that the officials in 8 districts bordering Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh districts, as the there is a possibility of Locusts entering from these states. The swarms of Locusts may enter Bhadrachalam, Charla, Venkatapuram, Vajedu, Peruru, Mangampet, Eturu Naagaram, Chennuru, Vemanapalli, Koutala, Dharmabad, Bodhan, Jukkal, Banswada, Narayankhed and Zaheerabad areas. Bhadradri-Kothagudem, Mulugu, Mancherial, Adilabad, Nirmal, Asifabad, Nizamabad, Kamareddy and Sangareddy district Collectors should be on alert. They should review the situation from time to time and act accordingly.
CS Team to Adilabad
The CM has constituted a special team under leadership of Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to oversee the measures taken to prevent Locusts from entering the State. Principal Secretary (Agriculture) Janardhan Reddy, Agriculture University VC Praveen Rao, CIPMC Plant Protection Officer Ms R Sunitha, Agriculture University senior Scientist Rahman and others will tour Adilabad for two days and review the situation with the District Collectors. This team will monitor the movement of the Locusts and the necessary measures.
