Centre should support locust-hit states, farmers, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked the Centre to support farmers and states who have suffered damage to crops due to locust attacks.

"Locusts have destroyed crops in Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, UP, MP, Gujarat and Maharashtra. GOI (Government of India) must provide support to the states and farmers who have suffered this menace," Rahul tweeted.

The former Congress President raised the issue when a swarm of locusts, which descended upon Gurugram on Saturday morning, entered Faridabad by afternoon and were expected to head towards Uttar Pradesh.

The swarms were spotted at DLF Phase 1 and MG Road in Gurugram at 11 a.m.

Dr K.L. Gurjar, Deputy Director, Directorate of Vegetation Conservation, Quarantine and Collection, told IANS that the locusts had reached Haryana for the first time on Friday night and there was an outbreak in areas around Delhi.

He pointed out that the locust swarms are moving towards Palwal in Haryana and could move towards Delhi since they travel in the direction of the wind. Locust swarms could be seen in Gurugram and Rewari in Haryana.

The swarms are widespread in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh at this time, while smaller swarms have reached Rohtas in Bihar and Varanasi and Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh.