Locust attack? Noida, Ghaziabad say ready

NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: The district administrations of Ghaziabad and Noida are busy preparing for a possible locust attack, said officials. However, they added, the chances of locust in these cities are less due to prevailing wind conditions.
"Currently, the wind direction is from east to west, limiting the possibility of a locust attack in Ghaziabad, but if it changes to north-south, the locusts could invade Ghaziabad from Baghpat and Loni side," said Virender Kumar, deputy director of agriculture."As of now, the locusts are camping around Jhansi and the state government there has been successful in weeding then off," he added.
In Ghaziabad, the authorities concerned have set up a control room. Ghaziabad has standing sugarcane crop spread across 35,000 hectares. "Locust are voracious eaters and under favourable wind conditions can travel up to 150kms in a day. They are air-borne during the day and in the even in they take rest in fields or at any place they find," said RS Verma, district plant protection officer.
"They are very sensitive to sound. They get scared if we blow conch shells, utensils and even play loud music. During their resting time from 3am to 5pm, 20 tractors would spray chemicals," added Verma.
The residents have been advised to close windows. In Noida, the DM has issued a set of guidelines to farmers about what to do in case of an attack. Chief development officer AK Singh said announcements are being made in the rural areas to make the farmers aware of the situation.