(a) whether Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) conducts artificial rain experiments in country, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether several States/UTs facing drought like situation are planning to implement the aerial cloud seeding procedure to tackle drought, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to undertake artificial rainfall/cloud seeding programmes in the country and if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND
MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) is conducting a science experiment on the rain enhancement through cloud seeding. The experiment is named Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX). The specific focus in CAIPEEX is on hygroscopic seeding, where an instrumented aircraft is used to dispense cloud seeding particles at the base of warm clouds. These particles trigger rain drops within an already existing cloud. The experiment is conducted obtains statistical and physical evidence through observations of cloud and rain properties with radar as well as aircraft. The experiment is based in Solapur in Maharashtra and have completed one year of airborne observations in 2018.
(b) This ministry doesn’t have information in this regard.
(c) This ministry doesn’t have a proposal to undertake artificial rainfall/cloud seeding programmes in the country. The experiment being conducted by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology is on research basis to understand the physics of artificial rain making and to assess its success rate.