Overview
- The cloud seeding programme was launched from Hubballi Airport on Monday, July 6, and was flagged off by Karnataka PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi with funding from six Haveri district MLAs.
- Kyathi Climate Modification Consultants LLP, mentored by Ranebennur MLA Prakash Koliwad, obtained DGCA permission to seed clouds over seven taluks and will base the designated aircraft at Hubballi through July for an initial three-day campaign.
- Organisers say seeding will be carried out only when scientists identify suitable rain-bearing clouds and that initial flights targeted taluks where favourable clouds were present while others were skipped for lack of suitable conditions.
- The MLAs report an operating cost of about ₹15 lakh per hour and plan to urge Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to consider scaling or formalising cloud seeding as a state-supported response for North Karnataka districts.
- Cloud seeding works by dispersing agents from aircraft into rain-bearing clouds to encourage precipitation, organisers point to past local exercises in 2001 and 2017 as precedent, and farmers could see relief if seeding raises local rainfall.