Cloud seeding begins in Haveri as six MLAs fund the exercise
In view of the scanty rainfall in Haveri district so far, six MLAs from the district have come forward to fund a cloud seeding exercise
In view of the scanty rainfall in Haveri district so far, six MLAs from the district have come forward to fund a cloud seeding exercise. On Monday, it was launched from Hubballi Airport by Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi. The initiative is led by Ranebennur MLA Prakash Koliwad who is the chief mentor at Kyathi Climate Modification Consultants LLP (KCMC). This company will carry out cloud seeding for three days in the taluks of Ranebennur, Haveri, Hirekerur, Rattihalli, Hangal, Shiggaon and Savanur. The company has obtained permission from the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for the programme.
Speaking to presspersons after launching the programme at Hubballi Airport, Mr. Saitsh Jarkiholi lauded the Haveri MLAs for the initiative and said that as North Karnataka districts have received less than average rainfall, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will be urged to take up cloud seeding in the region. Prakash Koliwad said that he has initiated the exercise along with five other MLAs from the district. The designated aircraft will be stationed at Hubballi Airport till July-end. Further cloud seeding will be taken up based on the advice of scientists. Cloud seeding will cost ₹15 lakh per hour and it has been taken up to help farmers affected by scanty rainfall, he said.
MLA H.K. Patil said that in view of the drought-like situation, cloud seeding has been taken up utilising advanced technology. He expressed the confidence that cloud seeding will be successful and resolve the problems of farmers. Patil said that the government should immediately resort to cloud seeding after assessing the rain scenario. “We will meet Mr. Shivakumar to apprise him of the situation in North Karnataka and impress upon him to take up cloud seeding in the region,” he said and recalled that similar exercises taken up in 2001 and 2017 were successful.
Navalgund MLA N.H. Konaraddi said that although cloud seeding will be taken up in Haveri district, it is likely benefit Dharwad district also. The Chief Minister will be urged to take up cloud seeding in Dharwad district also. During the launch of the exercise, MLAs Rudrappa Lamani and Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, MLC F.H. Jakkappanavar, HDUDA Chairman Shakeer Sanadi and others were present.
The BriefWire