BAHAWALPUR: A big swarm of locusts has, once again, attacked the desert areas of Cholistan, including Yazman city, about 40km from.

Dawn learnt attack of locust that started on Friday in the desert areas of Tofana, Bijnot and other places adjacent to populated and green union councils was contrary to the tall claims of both the Federal Plant Protection Department and the Punjab Agriculture Department regarding control of the situation.

The locust swarms had frequently attacked many parts and important cities of the region like Bahawalpur and Ahmedpur East during the last weeks and reached Yazman now.

The locusts surprised the people while created panic among the children and teenagers who were not accustomed to seeing them in such huge numbers. It is learnt that the swarms had increased manifold due to its breeding of locusts for a long time in the desert.

In August, the locusts had made its first appearance in the small part of Cholistan. It had started reaching from Lasbela (Balochistan) and later Indian officials pushed them into Pakistan territory from Rajasthan side too.

The officials of the department concerned had claimed that the locusts were going back to the cold areas of Siberia but now its invasion of Yazman and reappearance in Cholistan areas proved that its swarms still existed in the vast desert areas of Cholistan.

After the last week’s attack of massive locust swarms on three nearby villages and Bahawalpur city, Punjab Agriculture Department Director General (pest warning) Dr Zafaryab had visited the affected villages and had claimed that the locust did not damage the crops in the suburbs of the city. According to him, the locusts were migrating back to cold areas of Balochistan. But, the locusts again attacked Cholistan areas on Friday and Yazman on Saturday.

Cholistan Development Authority (CDA) focal person Imtiaz Lashari confirmed the latest attack of locusts on Yazman and Cholistan, saying it was due to the change in the diversion of the air which blew from south to north. According to him, the locust adopted the path in accordance with the direction of air.

This is opposite to the claims that the locust were returning to Balochistan and it passed through many cities of south Punjab.

Despite frequent attacks, Mr Lashari claimed the government’s field teams had intensified their anti-locust operation in the affected areas. He claimed the locusts would be completely wiped out from Cholistan and rural and urban areas of Bahawalpur division.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2019