Maharashtra govt may try for artificial rainfall in dry parts of state

Mumbai, June 12: Maharashtra State Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Eknath Khadse said the government has been approached by specialists in the field of cloud seeding to generate artificial rainfall in drier parts of the state. [No solution to farmers' suicide, Khadse's remark annoys farmers]

"We have asked them [the specialists] to give us a demonstration either at Jalgaon, some villages of Vidarbha or Marathwada region, which are dry areas. If the trial is successful, the government is open to trying it," Khadse said.

Director of International School of Professional Studies trustee Abdul Rehman Vanoo, who had recently made a presentation to Khadse, said the technology has been tested in areas like Sindhudurg and Sangli.

"Sugar acts as a propeller and Silver Iodine, which is at the tip of the rocket, is burst in the clouds according to our calculations. This causes a chemical reaction in clouds which causes rain within 40-60 minutes," Vanoo said.

"Silver Iodine of 47 per cent purity is required in the process which is to be imported from Argentina. For its import, we need an ‘End User Certificate' from the State government. Once we get the certificate, we will be ready to import iodine and generate artificial rainfall," he added.

He also said the technology could be used to shift a cloud to a distance of 80 km from its original position.

PTI