Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has constituted two separate committees to ensure the smooth implementation, monitoring and technical evaluation of its proposed cloud seeding programme, aimed at addressing the rainfall deficit across large parts of the state.
The move comes amid concerns over inadequate monsoon rainfall and the possibility of drought-like conditions in several regions.
A monitoring committee has been constituted to oversee, supervise and review the implementation of the cloud seeding programme.
The Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner will head the panel. Senior officials from the Water Resources, Revenue, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, and Agriculture departments, along with representatives of the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), will be members.
The Managing Director of the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) will serve as the member-secretary.
Technical panel to advise KSNDMC
A separate Technical Advisory and Evaluation Committee has been formed to provide scientific and technical guidance to KSNDMC on matters related to cloud seeding.
The KSNDMC director will chair the committee, which will include experts from the Agriculture Department, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre and other institutions.
Experts, including IISc professor Prof Nagesh Kumar, will also be part of the panel.
The government has granted administrative approval for an estimated ₹28.52 crore, excluding GST, for the cloud seeding programme.
The initiative will be jointly implemented by KNNL under the Water Resources Department and KSNDMC under the Revenue Department.
The government has decided to procure cloud seeding services from M/s Kyathi Climate Modification Consultants LLP and has granted an exemption under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act for the purpose.
The two committees are expected to play a key role in ensuring that cloud seeding operations in rainfall-deficient areas are carried out in a scientific, transparent and effective manner.