Declare locust attacks as natural disaster, demands Cong

New Delhi, June 28: The Congress on Sunday demanded that the government should declare locust attacks a natural disaster and farmers be given compensation under the crop insurance scheme.

The demand came after swarms of crop-destroying locusts entered Gurgaon in Haryana, border areas of the national capital and over half a dozen districts in Uttar Pradesh, prompting state authorities to sound an alert. The Centre had said it has deputed more teams to assist in control operations.

Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala claimed that the farmers and the general public are being told to bang ‘Taali and Thali (claps and plates)” when there is a locust attack.

“Sometimes the useless government prescribes ‘taali-thaali’ solution for the coronavirus pandemic, while at other times it prescribes it to deal with the locust attacks,” Mr Surjewala said in a statement.

“Is there no other scientific and rational solution left with the government?” he asked.

Locust swarms have attacked crops in Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and western Uttar Pradesh. Now these attacks have reached Delhi, he said.

Farmers from more than 84 districts have been badly affected by the attack of locusts from Pakistan, Mr Surjewala said.