2 more failed cloud seeding experiments

To make up for the scant rainfall, two more cloud seeding experiments were carried out by the civic body over Modak Sagar lake on Thursday. But they were unsuccessful.

To make up for the scant rainfall, two more cloud seeding experiments were carried out by the civic body over Modak Sagar lake on Thursday. But they were unsuccessful.

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Shantilal Meckoni, who conducted the experiment, said over 1 kg of silver iodide was used. The first experiment was carried out at 3.30 pm. It drizzled after one hour. After the second experiment at 4.30 pm, 9.8 mm rainfall was recorded in the Tansa catchment area till 6 pm.

“We conducted the experiment at Modak Sagar as the wind was in the opposite direction and we want to overflow Tansa,” said Pramod Guhe, deputy hydraulic engineer.

“The cloud formation and the moisture content in the clouds is very low and hence these experiments are not yielding any results,” added Guhe.

Four experiments had been carried out earlier this month. Cloud seeding is a method of inducing precipitation from clouds in which silver iodide (ground generator) or dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide) is used.

The BMC is spending Rs 15 lakh for these ground generator method of experiment. Due to insignificant rainfall in the catchments of lakes the water level in the lakes is gradually reducing. Last year on the same day at least three lakes were overflowing.