A cloud of insects
When swarms of locusts flooded Rajasthan last year, Union agriculture minister Balram Jakhar spared no effort to create the impression that he was deploying the best crisis technology available (Down To Earth, Vol II, No 8). Prominent among his plans was the revival of the Directorate of Agricultural Aviation, with an outlay of Rs 2.8 crore, to kill the swarms through aerial spraying of pesticides.
However, the 8 pilots employed by this wing have been hanging about without much to do. Not one spraying operation has been mounted and the pilots have taken to the air only to ferry senior officials around. The irony is that Jakhar made special arrangements for the leasing of 27 ground vehicles with mounted wireless sets as well as 2 aircraft loaned from Bangladesh for anti-locust operations.
Disgusted with this state of affairs, several pilots are said to be planning to quit their jobs.