Chennai, May 27: With a view to mitigating the drinking water shortage and increasing its availability, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to undertake 'cloud seeding' experiment during the south-west monsoon period of June to September, so that 20 to 25 per cent more water was available to the metropolis during this period. Fifteen points between Tiruttani and Sriperumbudur, covering 60 km, had been identified by cloud seeding experts and officials concerned, to put up 'ground generators', which would use 'silver iodide' for seeding purposes, State Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, said in a statement here. Two of the four reservoirs that feed the city with drinking water fall in this Tiruttani-Sriperumbudur belt. She pointed out that during 2002, both the south-west monsoon (June-September) and the north-east monsoon (Sept-Dec) failed in the state, creating water scarcity in several parts of the state, especially Chennai city. Since the monsoon in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh also failed last year, Krishna water was not made available to Chennai by Andhra Pradesh. The main monsoon for Tamil Nadu is north-east.

The cumulative availability of water as on date in all the reservoirs which feed the city was 1245 million cubic ft. As against 3088 million cubic ft on the same day last year, the chief minister said.

Bureau Report