Cloud seeding: AP Govt to call for global bids

Hyderabad, Feb 5 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to continue with its cloud seeding experiment for the next five years and said it would call for global bids to carry out the programme in future.

At a review meeting here, Chief Minsiter Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said the government would start the programme on June one this year and directed the officials concerned to allocate Rs 25 crore in every budget.

He said the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) had been selected as the monitoring agency for the cloud seeding programme.

Dr Reddy said the government also increased minimum support price to Pongamia seed from Rs six to ten per kg.

The Chief Minister had agreed to make available adequate number of district officials on deputation from the Forest Department for carrying out the bio-diesel programme, an official release here today said.

UNI