Bengaluru, September 4: Karnataka has launched a cloud-seeding programme aimed at addressing the state’s rainfall deficit and reducing the risk of water scarcity in the coming months.
Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy formally launched the programme at the HAL Airport in Bengaluru on Friday by flagging off the special aircraft deployed for cloud-seeding operations. Minister expressed hope that the initiative would help improve water availability and reduce the impact of a possible water crisis.
Government Warns of Possible Water Stress
Speaking at the launch, Cheluvarayaswamy said Karnataka had received less rainfall this year and warned that the state could face severe water shortages if adequate water is not stored before the end of the monsoon season.
He said it was difficult to assess the exact severity of the potential drought at this stage, but stressed that water availability would become a major concern if reservoirs and other water sources were not adequately replenished.
“Whatever the loss or gain, our intention is that the people should benefit from this project,” the minister said, adding that protecting the interests of the state and farmers was the government’s priority. He also said an earlier cloud-seeding operation had recorded around 35% success.
₹28.52 Crore Project
Cloud-seeding programme has received administrative approval for an estimated ₹28.52 crore, excluding GST. Project is being jointly implemented by Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) under the Water Resources Department and Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) under the Revenue Department.
Cloud-seeding contract has been awarded to M/s Kyathi Climate Modification Consultants LLP, with exemption from the provisions of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, according to the project details released by the government.
Two Committees to Monitor Operations
Government has constituted two committees to oversee the programme. A Monitoring Committee, headed by the Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, will supervise and review the overall implementation of the project.
A Technical Advisory and Evaluation Committee, headed by the Director of KSNDMC and comprising eight members, will provide technical guidance and assess the effectiveness of the operations. Technical team is expected to provide updates on cloud-seeding operations and their impact at two-hour intervals.
How Cloud Seeding Works
Cloud seeding is a weather-modification technique designed to encourage suitable clouds to produce precipitation. Depending on the type and temperature of the clouds, different seeding agents may be used. These can include:
- Silver iodide
- Potassium iodide
- Dry ice
- Sodium chloride (common salt)
Seeding material is introduced into suitable clouds using specialised aircraft equipped with weather-monitoring equipment and flares. Particles are intended to encourage the formation and growth of water or ice particles inside suitable clouds, increasing the possibility of precipitation.
Radar to Identify Suitable Clouds
Cloud-seeding operations cannot simply be conducted over a predetermined district. Instead, technical teams will continuously monitor weather conditions, including cloud development, wind speed and other atmospheric parameters. Suitable rain-bearing clouds will be identified using weather radar and other meteorological data.
When suitable clouds are detected, the aircraft will be directed to the relevant area for the operation. According to the project details, the location of operations will therefore depend on real-time weather conditions and technical assessments, rather than a fixed district-wise schedule.
Which Areas Will Be Covered?
Government has not fixed a specific list of districts for cloud seeding. Operations will be undertaken wherever suitable clouds are detected over rain-deficit areas, important reservoir catchment zones and regions facing agricultural stress. Technical team's weather assessments, updated every two hours, will determine where the aircraft is deployed. Programme is therefore intended to operate on an “opportunity-based” model, with cloud conditions determining when and where seeding can take place.
Several dignitaries, including Chief Minister’s Political Secretary G.C. Chandrashekhar, former minister H.K. Patil, MLA Konareddy and Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta, were present at the launch.
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Keywords
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