KOCHI: Despite the Centre’s reservations, the State government is exploring ways to conduct a cloud seeding experiment next month to induce rainfall.
Chief Minister’s Scientific Advisor M C Dathan told ‘Express’ the government will look at ways to conduct experimental cloud seeding by May 15 over the catchment area of a reservoir.
The Union Ministry for Earth Science had recently reiterated artificial rain-making techniques involving cloud seeding cannot be used to bring adequate rainfall in drought-hit areas.
Replying to a question in Parliament on April 12, Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Chowdary reiterated cloud seeding efforts can cause pre-existing clouds to produce rain only if organised weather modification intervention becomes successful. He said the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has put in efforts to understand rain enhancement in clouds. Its ‘Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment’ analyses the microphysical characteristics of clouds.
Dathan said a final decision on this matter will be taken after a few days as the IITM experiments in the past showed an enhancement of only around 25 per cent precipitation in targeted regions. However, there has been a slight improvement in precipitation of late, he said.
There are reports the State will float a global tender inviting professionals to undertake the costly exercise.
Meanwhile, the State received 29 per cent excess summer rainfall between March 1 and April 20 against the long period average of 92.7 mm. Besides, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a normal monsoon with the total precipitation across the country expected to be 96 per cent.