CS orders govt depts to collaborate to combat locusts

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik on Monday directed the departmetns concerned to work collectively on scientific lines to combat locust. “These departments include Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Agriculture, Livestock and Forest.”

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting to review steps to control locust in the province. Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) Babar Hayat Tarar, Agriculture secretary, PDMA director general and senior army officers attended the meeting.

Spray plane arrives to bolster fight against locust

The SMBR told the meeting that 150 vehicles and 260 motorcycle were being used for spray in locust-affected areas and so far 114,406 hectares of land had been covered.

As many as 760 solo power were also being utilized for carrying out spray, he added. He further said that a working group headed by SMBR and comprising secretaries of different departments including Finance, Agriculture, Livestock and Forest was supervising the situation.

Similarly, a core committee consisting of Agriculture DG, PDMA DG, representatives of army and Cholistan Development Authority was working against the pest.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2020.