Odishatv Bureau

 

Bhubaneswar: A team of experts from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) have finally managed to identify the cause behind the infestation of bugs in Mangala slum under ward no-14 of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).

After the matter came to light, the team of experts had gone to Chandaka forest to collect samples of the bugs, informed sources.

After testing the samples, the OUAT experts have said that the bugs which are emerging from the bamboo plantation nearby, are invading the area in search of food as it is the flowering season of bamboo trees and also the mating season of the insects.

The flowering season comes in every 30 to 40 years when these bugs are seen more. However, this year there has been an unprecedented rise in their numbers, the experts said.

According to OUAT experts, spraying chemicals is the only solution to kill these bugs, but since usage of those in huge quantities could damage the forest and affect residents nearby, they have decided to wait for some more days.

"We tried using some pesticide to control the bugs and it was successful up to a certain extent. However, we stopped it as excessive usage of these chemicals could be harmful for residents. Such an incident has never happened in the country before," associate professor of Forest department of OUAT, Nirakar Bhol said.

The number of these bugs will come down in some days as they are running out of food and the temperature is rising, the experts said.

In the meantime, local residents continue to suffer.

"We are not able to eat, sleep or even rest because of these bugs. It's difficult to live with small kids around," said a local resident.

 

 

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