MUMBAI: The cost for the BMC's ambitious cloud seeding experiment to induce rain near Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna catchments has gone up from Rs 12 crore to 20 crore with the BMC's decision to procure aircraft from India-based company My Avani, which in turn will bring specialized aircraft from South Africa.

The BMC had initially roped in Israel's Mekorot to bring aircraft, but owing to hassles over clearances, it changed its plan and is now negotiating with My Avani.

"We are waiting for a no objection certificate (NOC) from the central home department to use flying space for the aircraft. Had we passed the proposal in the standing committee meeting, the BMC would have got only 20% of the project cost, as per the condition set by the private firm in the work order. An official each from the hydraulic department and Mekorot has reached Delhi to work on approvals," said Rahul Shewale, chairman, standing committee.

However, Mekorot will only offer manpower and salt crystals for the experiment. that will provide a short-term respite from and a long-term solution to water crisis here.

On July 31, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) told the BMC that Israel had developed technology for cloud seeding. The BMC had signed an MoU with Israel's water and energy department last year.

The process will involve sprinkling of sodium chloride crystals from a plane on clouds to induce precipitation and subsequently, rain. It will be held over Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna lakes. So far, the city is short of 4 lakh MLD water.The BMC has been advised by IITM to go for cloud seeding in September as frequency of appearance of 'seedable' clouds is more then.