Cloud seeding discussed in Tue cabinet meet: Mungantiwar

Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar Tuesday said cloud seeding may be undertaken for artificial rains, if needed, in catchment areas of dams.

He said the issue was discussed in the state cabinet meeting.

"The issue cloud seeding for artificial rains was discussed in the state cabinet today. At present, we have reports of some areas getting heavy rainfall while others are still deficient. We need to have proper cloud formation over catchment areas of dams to undertake cloud seeding," the state forest minister said.

Cloud seeding is a type of weather modification in which chemicals like silver iodide, potassium iodide, dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) or liquid propane is dispersed in the air to act as cloud condensation to alter its microphysical processes.

When asked about some dams having no proper system of generating alerts, he said, "The government is serious about it. A comprehensive report on required repair works for new and old dams will be ready soon," Mungantiwar said.