Karnataka to launch ₹27-crore cloud seeding initiative amid rainfall deficit
Facing a significant rainfall shortfall this monsoon, Karnataka is set to launch a cloud seeding operation costing ₹27 crore. The initiative, announced by newly appointed Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, is expected to take off within days, with technical and administrative preparations completed on Tuesday.
The exercise comes as the state grapples with a 31% rainfall deficit affecting 175 of its 240 taluks, as reported by The Times of India. The Hindu notes that while some rainfall has been recorded, weather forecasts indicate a lack of sustained monsoon activity, prompting the government to pursue artificial precipitation measures.
Operation details
According to The Hindu, the cloud seeding exercise will comprise 200 flying hours spread over 60 days, targeting areas with thick cloud density. Operations will be conducted between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., with September identified as the optimal window due to dense cloud cover. Cloud volume typically drops significantly by October, the minister noted.
The flights will be designed to induce precipitation within an estimated 15-km radius of the targeted seed area, with routes dynamically adjusted based on real-time cloud density and atmospheric conditions. The operation will cover all four revenue divisions of the state.
The Times of India reports that the minister stated the exercise will begin next month and run for nearly 60 days, though The Hindu places the start within three days. The decision was taken to "tackle the prevailing rainfall deficit and pre-empt possible water scarcity across the state," according to Cheluvarayaswamy.
Success rates and history
This will be Karnataka's third cloud seeding attempt, following previous efforts in 2003 and 2017 that recorded an average success rate of 18-20%. The current initiative targets a 30% success rate, the minister said.
Kyathi Climate Modification Consultants, the company reported to have received the contract, has claimed the technology can enhance rainfall by 20-46% based on scientific papers. Krishi PK, the company's managing director, stated that the firm generated 7.5 TMC of additional water in 2017 during Operation Varshadhare in select districts of north Karnataka.
Oversight and procurement
The government has constituted three committees to oversee the exercise, as reported by both outlets. A monitoring committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary to the Water Resources Department will handle policy execution and inter-departmental coordination. A technical committee comprising scientists from IISc, IIT, and IMD will monitor meteorological parameters and radar tracking. A field operation and evaluation committee will manage daily flight sorties, seeding dispersal protocols, and ground-level rainfall impact assessment.
The Times of India reported that the government is likely to bypass the tendering process by seeking a 4G exemption under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, with the contract understood to have gone to Kyathi Climate Modification Consultants, a firm previously headed by Ranebennur Congress MLA Prakash Koliwad. This procurement detail was not mentioned in The Hindu's coverage.