(a) whether the Government has received reports of locusts invasion in some parts of
Western India;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any step is taken to tackle the problem; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
(a) whether the Government has received reports of locusts invasion in some parts of
Western India;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any step is taken to tackle the problem; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a) to (d): Yes, Sir. Small Scale breeding of locusts was observed in parts of the Scheduled
Desert Area in Western India during the Monsoons. A contingency plan was prepared by the
Locust Warning Organisation to deal with any impending locust situation. The State
Governments of locust prone States like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab were alerted of
the impending locust threat. Locust numbers subsequently increased in September when reports
were also received of breeding in adjacent areas in Pakistan. Several border meetings were held
between the locust officers of India and Pakistan to exchange information on the latest locust
situation in both countries for preparing and adopting a suitable control strategy. The Locust
Warning Organisation launched a campaign for the control of locusts in the affected areas of
Jaisalmer, Bikaner and jodhpur districts of Rajasthan with effect from the second week of
September, 2005. 31 fully equipped control teams have been deployed in the infested areas of
these districts due to which the locust menace has been able to be effectively controlled. Survey
& Surveillance measures are in progress in the Scheduled Desert Area to monitor and control
any further locust infestation.