Monday, January 10 2005 15:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Cautioning India against a possible invasion of locusts from the Pakistani territory in the coming months, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) today (Jan 10, 2005) asked New Delhi and Islamabad to jointly carry out surveys besides gearing up for preventive measures to deal with any eventuality.

"I do not know what the political equation between India and Pakistan is. But they can do survey together to watch the situation," Clive C H Elliott, a senior official of the organisation, told reporters after a meeting of the 'FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in Southwest Asia' in New Delhi.

He said the chance of a locust invasion was minimal in the region due to deficient rains, but the Government should, however, be on alert and ready to mobilise its inputs and equipment to meet any eventuality.

The locust swarm could stretch to a few kilometres and could eat away vegetation in no time, Elliott said.

A locust invasion could not be tamed with hand tools and pesticides; it would require aerial sprays for which aircraft would have to be requisitioned, he said.

Ashish Bahuguna, a senior official of the ministry of agriculture, said the country had the material and equipment, including the specialised aircraft, to meet any situation.

He, however, said the chance of a locust swarm invading India this year was remote, though the threat could be graver next year.