Maharashtra govt plumps for artificial rain to combat drought

traineesubeditor@tribuneindia.com

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, May 25

With Maharashtra reeling under the worst drought since 1972, the state government has decided to take up cloud- seeding ahead of the monsoon season.

"We are keeping an eye out for the arrival of the monsoon and accordingly a decision on cloud seeding will be taken," a state government official said.

The cloud seeding programme is expected to be undertaken in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions as the rainfall here is expected to be poor this year, according to the official.

In cloud-seeding, moisture laden clouds are sprayed with chemicals to increase condensation, which then falls to the ground as rain. 

"Cloud-seeding must be carried out in the early stages of the monsoon in order to be successful," the official said.

This process works best if carried out in July and August, according to experts.

The Devendra Fadnavis government had first carried out cloud-seeding in 2015 when the state was afflicted by drought. Sources say the results were mixed as the exercise was carried out in the latter half of the monsoon season. 

This time the government has earmarked Rs 30 crore for the cloud-seeding project and global companies with expertise will be invited to make their bids to execute the project.

Meanwhile the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) is also planning to conduct an experiment to bring artificial rain in the state's Solapur district which receives scanty rainfall. 

Rain-bearing clouds will be sprayed with salts like sodium chloride and calcium chloride from an airplane to bring about rain.

The Chinese government had also extended its help for Maharashtra's cloud-seeding programme in the past.