The Times of India 28.08.2012
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation may defer cloud-seeding experiment
MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is likely to defer the cloud-seeding experiment, which was slated to be carried out from September 1, pending clearance from aviation regulator DGCA.
"The DGCA
has sought reply on certain things like who will be responsible for the
cloud seeding operations, how the civic body will go ahead with it
?..Hence the process may be delayed and the experiment might commence in
the second week of September," said R B Bambale, hydraulic engineer in
BMC.
The exercise aimed at increasing water-level in catchment
areas in the metropolis, following deficient rains, was earlier
scheduled from September 1-28.
The civic body requires DGCA's
permission on the air space to be used by a plane before it goes ahead
with the procedure. Also, the BMC is yet to get a green signal from the
Maharashtra home department in this regard, he said.
However, if the rainfall improves in coming days, it will help in increasing water level in various dams, he added.
The official, however, said the cost of the project would escalate to
Rs 20 crore from the previous Rs 12 crore, as the civic body will have
to pay for using the runways.
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.
Earlier this month, a presentation in
this regard was made by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)
to the group leaders of various parties. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) will also be aiding the civic body in the project along with an Israeli company.
