Karnataka launches ₹27-crore cloud-seeding operation to combat monsoon deficit

Karnataka is expected to launch a ₹27-crore cloud-seeding operation within three days after clearing the final technical and administrative hurdles on Tuesday, Major Irrigation Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy announced.

The intervention will span 200 flying hours over a 60-day period, targeting areas with thick cloud density between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. The state is turning to artificial precipitation measures after a deficit monsoon and weather forecasts indicating a lack of sustained rainfall, raising concerns about potential water scarcity.

Targeting 30% success rate

September offers the most favourable conditions for the exercise, with the dense cloud cover necessary for effective seeding, according to Cheluvarayaswamy. Cloud volume typically drops significantly by October, narrowing the operational window. The minister said Karnataka aims for a 30% success rate in the current initiative, higher than the 18-20% average achieved during three previous cloud-seeding exercises in the state.

Four-division deployment

Cloud seeding will be conducted across all four revenue divisions of Karnataka. Flight paths will be dynamically routed based on real-time cloud density and atmospheric conditions rather than fixed routes. Each seeding operation is designed to induce precipitation within an estimated 15-kilometre radius of the targeted area.

Three-tier oversight mechanism

The government has set up separate committees to execute and monitor the programme. A monitoring committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary to the Water Resources Department will oversee policy execution, inter-departmental coordination, and overall governance. A technical committee comprising scientists and experts from IISc, IIT, and the India Meteorological Department will track meteorological parameters and radar data. A field operation and evaluation committee will manage daily flight sorties, seeding dispersal protocols, and ground-level rainfall impact assessment.

While some rainfall has been recorded in parts of the state, the scattered precipitation has not provided the continuous monsoon activity needed to secure adequate water reserves, prompting the artificial intervention.

Source: The Hindu