Bengaluru: The state government is all set to launch cloud seeding over catchment areas of three main rivers next month, but experts are keeping their fingers crossed as a similar initiative, Project Varuna, came a cropper in 2003.
According to H.P Prakash Kumar, Chief Engineer in RDPR department, who is in-charge of cloud seeding, "implementation of cloud seeding project will take time. We have to take the approval of different agencies of the Union government, including Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Thus it will take one month time to implement the project." In addition, approvals of the Union ministries of home and defence and the Indian Air Force are pre-requisite for cloud seeding.
When asked whether it would be a success as it failed in 2003, Mr. Prakash said "I don't know what had happened in 2003 because at that point in time, the water resources department implemented the project. But I can say that this time cloud seeding will give good results. After discussing with experts and engineers, we will implement it."
The state government has set aside Rs. 30 crores for the project, with Hoysala Project Pvt.Ltd, tasked to take up the project for 60 days in catchment areas of Cauvery, Malaprabha and Tungabhadra. Mr. Kumar said, "we can not fix the exact amount for this kind of project because it is difficult to gauge the cost. Initially, the government has budgeted Rs 30 crores for the project."
Though scheduled for over 60-days, the officials are likely to stretch it further after taking approval. Initial reports from experts in both National Disaster Monitoring Centre and in Indian Institute of Science(IISc) said that cloud seeding could be successful this time.
