BENGALURU: The Karnataka state government has given administrative approval for cloud-seeding operations for 60 days in drought-hit areas at an estimated cost of Rs 28 crore.
The operations will be conducted under the supervision of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam with scientific/technical assistance from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). During their meetings with CM Shivakumar, the elected representatives urged him to take steps for cloud-seeding in view of the poor monsoon, and a proposal was submitted by M/s Kyathi Climate Modification Consultants LLP (KCMC) on August 13, according to a government order.
Based on the results of the previous “Varshadhare” cloud-seeding programme implemented by the government and CAIPEEX (Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment) by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), “Karnataka Emergency Cloud Seeding Programme - 2026” has been prepared by KSNDMC. According to a report by KSNDMC, the state recorded a rainfall deficit of 42% by the end of June and 29% by the end of July. In all, 178 taluks in 27 of the 31 districts face rainfall deficit.