CHANDIGARH, JANUARY 16: The State Agriculture Department has categorically said that as per its survey no case of locust entering Punjab had been reported so far.
Disclosing this here today, Secretary Agriculture K. S. Pannu advised the farmers not to be panicky as the officials of department are in constant touch with the agri-experts of Rajasthan and Government of India, who are monitoring the situation 24X7 in Rajasthan.
Besides, the State Government has already made elaborate arrangements to combat any unforeseen exigency in this regard.
Divulging the preparedness plans, Secretary Agriculture informed that there was absolutely no danger regarding locust attack. However, the Department has already pressed into service several monitoring and survey teams to keep a close tab over the situation and constantly surveying the border districts of Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka.
Notably, locust pest popularly known as ‘Tiddi Dal’ is a group of locusts, which devours the vegetation wherever it settles. The locust attack has been reported since past several days in parts of Rajasthan which has emanated from the desert area in Pakistan.
However the pest attack has been controlled in Rajasthan by way of vigorous efforts of State Governments and Government of India. A few sporadic locust swarms were reported in Anoopgarh and Sri Ganganagar districts of Rajasthan, which have also been successfully controlled as reported by the officials of the Government of Rajasthan.