The Hindu Business Line : Cloud seeding from June 1 in Maharashtra

MAHARASHTRA will start its efforts to induce rain by seeding even pre-monsoon clouds starting June 1, it was officially announced on Wednesday. The intent is to continue doing so till the last wisp of clouds are in the skies over the State which is currently going through one of its worse droughts.

This time, the number of radars to detect rain-bearing clouds which tend to give the lands beneath the miss is to be doubled to two. As against one aircraft used by an American company, two are to be deployed on contract.

The cloud seeding last year, though it commenced late, was carried on till the tail-end of the monsoon and the straggling clouds were seeded, with the Government claiming that it was successful.

``It does not matter if the rains are normal this time. That is our hope,'' an official said. ``If it does not, we want to have our act ready. Last year, we took this cloud seeding towards the end of monsoon. We do not want to repeat the mistake.''

The radars are to be located, one each at Shegaon in Buldhana district and another, as was done last monsoon, at Baramati. The total cost of the project, for which global tenders were called, is in the range of Rs 9.5 crore.

Such expenses, the official says, are worth it given the reality of intense drought that stalks the State regularly.

This year, at this point of time, 4,226 tankers are providing drinking water to 4,222 villages and 8,283 hamlets. Last year, the number was smaller: tankers - 2,125; villages and hamlets served - 2,526 and 3,936 respectively.

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