Govt steps up locust control operations; drones to be deployed soon

The Centre on Wednesday stepped up its response to the threat of locusts, which have invaded vast swathes of land in western and central India. This came after experts warned of extensive crop losses if authorities fail to contain the fast-spreading swarms by June.

This is the worst locust attack in decades as they are spearing into Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab after destroying crops in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.

In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture said control operations have been stepped up and drones will be deployed for aerial spraying of insecticides in the affected states. Locust containment measures and sprinkling operations have been conducted in 303 locations spread over more than 47,000 hectares till Wednesday in 21 districts of Rajasthan, 18 in Madhya Pradesh, two in Gujarat and one in Punjab, it added.