Locust attack: 12 Rewari villages report crop damage

ROHTAK: A day after the locust attack in South Haryana’s Narnaul and Rewari districts, state agriculture minister J P Dalal on Saturday visited the fields of Bohatwas Bhondu and Parkhotampur villages in Rewari to review the steps taken to prevent the locust attack on crops.
Meanwhile, farmers reported damage to cotton and Bajra crops in at least 12 villages of Rewari district where insects settled on Friday night after venturing into the fields of Narnaul district during the day.
The agriculture minister assured farmers that they do not need to panic as the state government would stand with them. He said the damage caused by the locust attack is being assessed by the administration.
Dalal said that since locusts entered India from Pakistan about six months ago, the Haryana government started making advance preparations to deal with the pest attack. He said the state government has made extensive arrangements to protect crops.
Deputy commissioner, Rewari, Yashendra Singh told the minister that the locusts entered Rewari district from Mahendragarh at around 5pm on Friday and stayed in the villages around Jatusana at night.
Meanwhile high alert was issued in neighbouring districts of Jhajjar, Rohtak and Sonipat. Administrative officials reviewed preparations to prevent the locust attack in their respective districts.