Maharashtra cabinet paves way for cloud seeding

Fearing another drought wreaking havoc in Maharashtra, the Cabinet on Thursday cleared a proposal to conduct cloud seeding experiments through a specially-modified aircraft over central Maharashtra.

Fearing another drought wreaking havoc in Maharashtra, the Cabinet on Thursday cleared a proposal to conduct cloud seeding experiments through a specially-modified aircraft over central Maharashtra.

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These experiments, aimed at creating artificial rain, will be held within a month’s time, said sources.

Hindustan Times had reported last month how the government had received two bids of which it had shortlisted one, an Indo-American consortium for these experiments. The trials will cost around Rs28 crore.

As part of the process, this company will use an aircraft to release silver iodide into the clouds, which stimulates precipitation and causes rainfall. The aircraft, which is specially modified to conduct seeding, will have to be imported from the US, officials from the relief and rehabilitation department said.

This will be in addition to an already-planned trial of a new technology in creating artificial rain by firing rockets into the sky.

Hindustan Times had, earlier this month, reported how the government was planning to allow a private company to conduct a trial of this technology. The state is now planning to hold these trails in Jalgaon next month.