SUKKUR: Sindh Minister for Agriculture Mohammad Ismail Rahu has said that the Centre is not serious in helping Sindh government eliminate locusts as it has provided three planes but only one pilot for carrying out spray of pesticides on the insect-infested areas.
The minister told journalists after chairing a meeting of deputy commissioners and officials of agriculture department at commissioner’s office here on Wednesday that because of this the government had held up the aerial spray.
He asked how was it possible for one pilot to fly three planes. When they demanded two more pilots, the federal government replied they had gone on training, he said.
The Sindh government had been in the field against locusts for past seven months. They wrote to the federal plant protection department while emergency centres had also been set up, he said.
At least 27 vehicles of Sindh government were working day in and day out against the scourge while planes and the pesticide to kill locusts were with the federal government. “We are ready to pay rent for the planes and cost of pesticides to the federal government,” he said.
He said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government and its leaders could not frighten them with talk about governor rule in Sindh. Pakistan Peoples Party did not know of fear; it was used to coping with difficulties, he said.
Locusts continue to ravage Thar fields
MITHI: Locusts continued to ravage cultivated fields and all types of vegetation in Mithi, Diplo, Islamkot, Chhachhro, Nagarparkar and Dahli talukas on Wednesday.
People of the affected areas told this reporter that despite alarming situation in their areas the government functionaries appeared least concerned about their plight. Nobody seemed to be making concerted and coordinated efforts to eliminate the insect, which had now grown in size, they said.
They regretted the insect had been present in Thar for five months but functionaries had not taken any serious efforts to save them from massive devastation.
Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2019
