China to help Maharashtra cloud-seed Solapur

China has declared that it will help Maharashtra in its cloud seeding efforts this year for Solapur district that usually receives scanty rainfall. Though the rain predictions are good this year, the state government has already decided to opt for cloud seeding in certain areas. The state government will soon approach the Centre to seek permission to use a rocket launcher for the cloud seeding process.

Commenting on this chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya said, “A proposal has been approved by the state Cabinet on this matter, on Tuesday. The Chinese representatives had approached the state offering help with the cloud seeding technology. A team of experts from Shanghai have visited Solapur to observe the weather pattern there.”

He further added, “Another reason for choosing that district was because Dr Dwarkanath Kotnis hailed from Solapur. We will seek permission from the Centre for this initiative”.

Late Dr Kotnis served as a physician during the second Sino-Japanese war in 1938, and later became a symbol of friendship and collaboration between China and India.

After facing severe drought for four consecutive years in Marathwada, the state is being cautious and adopting various methods to conserve water like the Jalyukta Shivar. This year, the state started using trains to transport water from western Maharashtra to Latur city in Marathwada, as the local sources had dried up completely. This made international news, as the state had for the first time received water supply in this manner.

Cautious after the severe water crunch, the state had approved a resolution in the Cabinet last month to go for cloud seeding this year if the rainfall is less in a few parts.

The government’s own efforts for the cloud seeding last year had failed completely after spending about Rs 27 crore.

China has been using cloud seeding technology for a few years. It will supply both experts and technology to Maharashtra. The help was actually offered for drought mitigation in the state when chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had visited China.

Cloud seeding is a technique of attracting rain for regions that have low rainfall. Chemicals like silver iodide, potassium iodide and dry ice are used to try and stimulate rainfall. It is usually done through rocket launchers. Even in dry areas, the air usually contains water that is made to come together to form ice crystals with the help of the chemicals. The results of the cloud seeding, however, are not 100 per cent positive. This is because seeding is performed on clouds that look like they have some potential to produce rain. But there is no certainty that if a cloud that causes rainfall after being seeded would have rained anyway or not.