Bengaluru: The state government has come out with a strong defence of cloud-seeding operations being undertaken now to combat a drought situation following deficit rain during the South-West Monsoon.
Justifying the whopping Rs 35 crore being spent on this at the launch of the 60-day project, RDPR minister H.K. Patil said, “People have come up with different versions of cloud-seeding, which is a fully scientific programme, accepted in more than 50 countries. This is a fully government funded programme in countries like China and Thailand. So, it is wrong to criticise it without knowing the whole truth.” According to him, the state was already 10 days behind schedule.
“The Union government’s decision to roll-out GST posed an obstacle in procuring clearances for sourcing equipment. Now, we have renamed the project Varshadhare which is aimed at increasing precipitation by 10-15%.” Expressing a similar view, agriculture minister, Krishna Byre Gowda asserted that these scientific projects are the need of the hour as the state is reeling under drought for the last three years. “Year on year losses due to drought have increased to Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 crore, while the state spending Rs 4000 to Rs 6000 crore additionally to tackle drought. Going by this, a Rs 35 crore project is not at an impulsive move. The entire cabinet backed this decision after studying expert opinion,” he asserted.
