Cloud seeding cannot be used to bring adequate rains: Govt

Cloud seeding cannot be used to bring adequate rains to drought affected areas as the technique can only "induce potential pre-existing clouds", the government said today.
In a written response to a question in Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State in Ministry of Earth Sciences Y S Chowdary said the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, is putting its effort in understanding the rain enhancement in clouds.
The IITM is studying cloud micro physical characteristics through a research program - Cloud Aerosal Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX).
"The present scientific knowledge suggests artificial rain making techniques involving cloud seeding cannot be used as an alternate for bringing rain to rain deficit or drought- hit areas.

"These techniques can only induce potential pre-existing clouds with adequate cloud development, to produce enhanced quantum of rain," Chowdary said.
With some or the other region facing acute rainfall deficit every year, there has been a demand from several sections across the country to try cloud seeding to deal with the problem.