Karnataka spared as locust swarm heads north

BENGALURU/BELAGAVI: The locust swarm in Maharashtra had triggered a high alert in six districts of north Karnataka but 450km from the border, the cluster appears to be heading northward now. The state has the timely southwest monsoon winds to thank, since the insects thrive only in arid conditions.
Agriculture minister BC Patil said on Thursday that in any case, the state was ready to tackle a locust infestation: "We have no less than 1 lakh litres of chemicals that can be sprayed before the locusts attack crops. We would have used the fire department's services, apart from using drones to mix the chemicals with water." He added that the department has close to Rs 200 crore at hand, as part of the state disaster relief fund, to tackle any such attack.
"The swarms are moving somewhat eastwards towards Chandigarh border in Punjab from Bhandara district in Maharashtra. As the wind is moving in the same direction, these insects follow the wind," said agriculture department director BY Srinivas. He said the south-west monsoon which is commencing soon will also prevent the insects from heading south.
Farmers at Kolar found some grasshoppers, leading to panic. Srinivas clarified that these insects feed on a local shrub and surface during variation in weather.