(a) whether the Government proposes to use artificial rainfall/cloud seeding programmes with the help of State Government and commercial firms; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
(a) whether the Government proposes to use artificial rainfall/cloud seeding programmes with the help of State Government and commercial firms; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
The MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
(Shri Y. S. Chowdary)
(a) No Madam.
(b) As things stand today, artificial rain making techniques involving cloud seeding cannot be used for bringing rain clouds to rainfall deficit/drought areas. Such efforts can only induce potential preexisting clouds, already passing over a given place, to produce rain only if organized weather modification intervention becomes successful.
However Earth System Science Organisation – Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (ESSO-IITM) is putting its effort in understanding the rain formation in clouds through studying cloud microphysical characteristics through a research program Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX).