Dear Sir, Apropos, a recent note of the Indian Railways, regarding problem of insect-pests (including bugs, ticks, mosquitos, honey bees, flies etc), rodent- (rats) and reptile-pests (Lizard), etc., in the coaches. Insect, mammal and reptile pests is a series problem in closed, upper classes, and open, lower classes, coaches. (1) These pests are not only vectors (which do not cause disease itself but spreads infection by conveying pathogens from one host to another), but (2) intelligently, use railways as a means of movement to newer areas. (1) If we want to eradicate these pests from coaches, first we have to control it’s population at the railway platforms (especially, at junction & terminal stations, where train stay for a long time, as well as, in the yards, from where these pests enter into the coaches. (2) Pest control, now a days is a highly specialised field, as now newer, safer, phyto- pesticides & rodetisides, and non-invasive techniques are available to kill/repeal these pests. Under this circumstances, the advice sought from individuals will not be much useful. To achieve a goal of pest control, the IRs should sought an expert advice from the Entomologists & Rodentologist. Although, each Agriculture-University, ICAR- Research Institute, even district KVKs having pest control expert, but Railways should seek advice from one of the best, experts of our country, viz., (1) For insect pest control , may contact, Dr Naved Sabir (Mobile: 98685-89857;
navedsabir@yahoo.com), IPM expert in GAP, CPCT, IARI, Pusa Institute, New Delhi, and for Insect pest & Rodent control, contact Dr: Dr R S Tripathi (Phone: 0291-2786689, Mobile: 94147-00799;
r.tripathi@icar.gov.in), Project Coordinator, pest control, ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur (Rajasthan). I hope they will be able to help IRs to mitigate the problem of pest control, sought by them. Dr H C Bohra.
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