Yogi Adityanath Government Plans Artificial Rainfall For Drought-Hit Regions Of UP

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) administration plans to use artificial rainfall for drought-struck areas of the State, according to this report in Jansatta.

To this end, the UP government has drawn up a project in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (Kanpur). The department entrusted with the project is that of irrigation, currently headed by Dharampal Singh.

Singh has been quoted as saying that the project would be started in Bundelkhand and eventually cover all drought-hit areas of UP.

To create artificial clouds for rain, a mixture of silver iodide and other gases would be sprayed over the area under drought. A team from IIT-Kanpur has made a presentation to the irrigation department in this regard. Moreover, the IIT team is also said to have procured the necessary equipment already. According to the minister, it would take Rs 5.5 crores for spraying over an area of 1000 square kilometres.

The minister also added that earlier China had agreed to share the technology for artificial rain for a price of Rs 11 crore. However, once China refused, the project was taken up by IIT-Kanpur, which was successful in creating the technology for it.