Mumbai, Aug 22: Alarmed by scarcity situation prevailing across parts of Maharashtra, the state cabinet today decided to go in for cloud seeding programme in seven districts for artificial rainfall. "The programme will be implemented from September. Solapur, Sangli, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Pune, Beed and Osmanabad districts will benefit from it," Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told a post cabinet news conference here.

The total cost for the project to be implemented by US-based 'Weather Modification Company', is around Rs 4.5 crore, Shinde said. To tide over drought like situation, Maharashtra has taken a cue from neighbouring Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh by going for the cloud seeding project.

Meteorologists of Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) have stated that rain-deficient areas can get 15-24 per cent of average rainfall by cloud seeding. The experiment for artificial rains is being carried out in countries like USA, Australia, Israel and South Africa for last five decades.

After a careful study of the clouds, they are sprinkled with chemical like sodium chloride and silver iodide - which help in the liquification of humidity.

Asked why the decision was taken when the monsoon was coming to an end, he said "we were waiting for the rainfall. After it became clear that we would not get rains we decided to go in for cloud seeding." Shinde said the government is spending Rs one crore per month for providing fodder to cattles in affected areas.

Bureau Report