Date:20/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/20/stories/2007012005070500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Global tenders to be called for cloud-seeding

Special Correspondent

YSR keen to continue operations for the next five years YSR keen on continuing operations for the next five years

Experts told to analyse results and give suggestions

`Awareness should be created among farmers: Minister

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy is keen that cloud-seeding operations should be continued for the next five years and global tenders in this regard will be called in a month, Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy has said.

Inaugurating a three-day international workshop on `Weather modification technologies-2007' at the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University here on Thursday, he called upon scientists not to leave any stone unturned in making the cloud-seeding programme a success. He urged experts to critically analyse the results and make recommendations as the ultimate goal was to draw "as many drops as we can" to help farmers.

He lauded JNTU, which was entrusted with carrying out cloud-seeding operations for creating confidence among farmers.

He said that better results were obtained this year. An experts committee, which evaluated the results, recommended that it should be continued.

In 47 countries

Minister for Lift Irrigation M. Mareppa wanted awareness to be created among farmers on the benefits of cloud-seeding.

Roelof Bruntjes from National Centre For Atmospheric Research, USA, said that more than 250 programmes in 47 countries were currently on. One of the reasons for undertaking cloud-seeding was to find out alternative resources due to the prospect of water scarcity in many parts. JNTU Vice-Chancellor K. Rajagopal appreciated the Government for taking up cloud-seeding for the benefit of farmers. I. V. Muralikarishna, Coordinator, Centre for Atmospheric Sciences and Weather Modification Technologies, said the total quantity of rainfall enhanced by cloud-seeding in 10 districts in the State was estimated to be 18.3 TMC.