Bengaluru, 22 August 2026: Karnataka government has given administrative approval for a ₹28.52 crore cloud seeding programme aimed at addressing rainfall deficiency and drought-like conditions in the State during the 2026-27 water year.
Approval was issued by the Water Resources Department through Government Order No. JSAI 144 MTP 2026, dated August 19, 2026. Programme will be implemented through the Karnataka Irrigation Corporation under the Water Resources Department, with scientific and operational supervision assigned to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).
According to the government order, the programme will involve one DGCA-approved aircraft, with operations planned for 60 days and up to 200 flight hours. Approved cost comprises ₹27.52 crore as fixed cost and ₹1 crore as variable cost, excluding GST.
Rainfall deficit prompts cloud-seeding plan
Decision comes against the backdrop of significant rainfall deficiency reported across Karnataka during the current season. According to the KSNDMC assessment cited in the government proposal, the State had recorded a 42% rainfall deficit by the end of June and 29% by the end of July. As of August 13, rainfall deficiency had been reported in 178 taluks across 27 of Karnataka's 31 districts, according to the proposal.
Issue of rainfall shortage and emerging drought conditions was discussed at regional-level meetings held in Kalaburagi, Belagavi and Bengaluru, as well as at a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on August 2 in connection with Cauvery water-related issues. Public representatives had also urged the government to consider cloud seeding as one of the measures to address the rainfall shortage.
What will the cloud-seeding programme involve?
Proposal was prepared by KSNDMC under the ‘Karnataka Emergency Cloud Seeding Programme – 2026’ framework. Planned operation will use:
- One DGCA-approved cloud-seeding aircraft
- Weather radar data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- KSNDMC's weather observation network
- Meteorological assessment to identify suitable clouds
- Scientific monitoring and post-operation assessment
Government order specifies that cloud-seeding operations will be undertaken only after suitable clouds are identified through meteorological assessment.
Government cites CAIPEEX findings
Proposal also refers to cloud-seeding experiments conducted by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. CAIPEEX Phase-IV experiments were conducted in Maharashtra's Solapur rain-shadow region during 2018 and 2019. Government proposal cites reported rainfall enhancement based on automatic rain gauges at some locations and also refers to a study indicating higher rainfall enhancement in a downwind area.
However, cloud seeding is a weather-dependent intervention and its effectiveness depends on the presence and characteristics of suitable clouds. The cited experimental findings therefore do not mean that cloud seeding can generate rainfall independently of suitable atmospheric conditions.
KSNDMC to handle scientific monitoring
Government has separated the scientific and financial responsibilities of the programme. KSNDMC will undertake the technical scrutiny of the estimate, scientific supervision, identification of suitable clouds, meteorological assessment, monitoring, operational assessment, post-operation evaluation and bill certification.
Karnataka Irrigation Corporation will handle administrative matters, bill payments and other financial issues from the special grant provided by the Water Resources Department. Irrigation Corporation had earlier reported that it did not have the institutional expertise required to independently certify the specialised scientific and technical aspects of cloud-seeding operations.
₹28.52 crore proposal revised
Government order states that M/s Kyathi Climate Modification Consultants LLP (KCMC) submitted a revised proposal on August 13. Proposal covered 60 days of operations and 200 flight hours using one aircraft, with a fixed cost of ₹27.52 crore and variable cost of ₹1 crore, excluding GST. Based on the proposal and recommendations, the State government has now granted administrative approval for the programme.
What the programme means for Karnataka
Cloud-seeding initiative is being positioned as one of the State's responses to the current rainfall deficit. Its actual impact, however, will depend on weather conditions, availability of suitable clouds and the effectiveness of the seeding operations. The government has therefore placed scientific monitoring and post-operation assessment with KSNDMC. Programme is expected to run during the August-October 2026 period, with the approved operational framework providing for 60 days and 200 flight hours.
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