SHC orders Sindh government to continue to take combative steps against locusts attack

Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered Sindh Government and provincial agriculture department to continue combat measures against locusts attack in Sindh. A division bench of the SHC comprised of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal issued these orders in a petition, filed by Syed Mureed Ali Shah Advocate.

According to the petitioner, the first report of locusts invasion emerged in early May and in the past locusts infestations have occurred several times and locusts caused huge amount of damage to the agriculture crops. The petitioner sought the directions to carry out the survey of the affected areas and to provide relief to the affected farmers.

Secretary, Agriculture, Supply and Price Department Sindh filed comments. According to him, affected areas were Sukkur {Saleh Pal Desert), Ghotki Desert, Khairur Nara Desert, Tharparkar, Umerkot Desert Area, Sanghar (Achro Thar Desert), Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushero Feroze, Shikarpur, Mirpurkhas, Larkana and Badin.

The report said that the spray was conducted at 6546 acres of land and 57 teams of Agriculture Extension Sindh are working in all locust affected districts and 22 vehicles along with spray machines and pesticides are available in the field. ThE report said that total cropped area sprayed is 60112 including 6546 acres sprayed on 19 December, 2019. The desert area was sprayed through aerial and ground operation regularly.

The field teams are also carrying out spray operation on crops as well as on desert area. It is further stated in the comments that the Chief Secretary has constituted an Implementation and Oversee Committee on 24.07.2019 to implement precautionary and combat measures against locust attack in districts of Sindh and the Government of Sindh has released funds in the sum of Rs 16.00 million to the Deputy Commissioners of the affected districts of Sindh.

The report said that Chief Secretary Sindh is continuously holding meetings and getting follow up by daily reporting mechanism through the Secretary, Agriculture, Supply and Price Department.

The Ministry of Agriculture has also declared "Emergency of Desert Locusts Threat in Sindh" and the Government of Sindh has also released Rs 319.695 million for locusts surveillance and control operations, the report said. The court in its order observed that all efforts are in process to fight the locusts' invasion and the Government is taking all necessary actions with sincere efforts to combat the locusts' infestations. The court disposed of petition with the directions to the Government of Sindh and the Agriculture Department to ensure that to continue efforts to combat locusts attack.