ASI Tackles the Locust Swarms in Delhi

ASI Tackles the Locust Swarms in Delhi
Image source: Google

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) issued detailed guidelines to protect trees, orchards and shrubs from falling under its jurisdiction, overseeing the swarms of locust busting in. There are 174 protected monuments under the ASI in Delhi.

Swarms have recently created panic in the country as they feed extensively on plants and are capable of destroying large areas of vegetation, including crops. The threat is particularly severe in Rajasthan; However, over the weekend, Delhi issued an advisory to prepare for a possible attack.

ASI came into action after raiding in Gurgaon. “After the first notification was issued, the herd was not seen in Delhi,” said a Culture Ministry official. “However, the Delhi government held an emergency meeting with DG, ASI after issuing an advisory.”

Locust swarms that wreaked havoc in farmland and cities like Rewari, Jhajjar and Gurugram in Haryana over the weekend have entered areas of Uttar Pradesh, the leading sugar producing state in the country.  

The swarms, spread across 3-5 sq km, had ravaged crops near Gurugram.

They have been hitting various districts of western UP and the Bundelkhand region in the last 48 hours, prompting alerts in several districts such as Agra, Kasganj, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot and Jhansi.

“Due to wind direction from west to South-east direction, the locust swarms crossed over to UP and MP from Haryana instead of entering Delhi,” as told by K.L. Gurjar, deputy director at Locust Warning Organisation (LWO).

Authorities fear a serious threat to crops in these regions as the Kharif sowing is in full swing due to favourable monsoon rainfall.