Odisha Govt Gears Up to Take on Locust, Sets up State and District Level Control Rooms

Bhubaneswar: With the swarms of desert locusts spreading tentacles in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Odisha Government has geared up to deal with the impending threat. The government has readied large sprayer machines of the fire department on standby for chemical spray. The government has also made arrangements for sufficient stock of chemicals to fight locust invasion.

Meanwhile, control rooms have already been set up in every district and the state level to monitor the locust movement and any other emergency situation. The state has been divided into three zones for better coordination and keep watch on the situation, Agriculture Minister Arun Sahu said today.

The block and district level agriculture officers will conduct a detailed survey on the movement of locust swarms and submit a report explaining the density of the locusts area-wise.

The movement of the locust swarm to Odisha primarily depends on the monsoon and the wind direction. Still, we are ready to counter the threat, he further said. Nodal officers in all districts have been directed to keep a close watch on the movement of the locusts.