As per the IMD data, Karnataka has faced a cumulative deficit of 22 per cent his monsoon season
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Faced with weak monsoon, the Karnataka Government plans to undertake cloud seeding over the next 60 days to enhance precipitation and address rain deficit across the State.The state is setting up three panels including a technical committee, monitoring, field operations and evaluation committee comprising of state officials and experts from IIT, IISc and meterological department to carry out the cloud seeding exercise, which is expected to start within two days, said Karnataka Minister for Water Resources, Major and Medium Irrigation, N Cheluvarayaswamy on Tuesday.“Cloud seeding has been undertaken three times in the State so far, with a success rate of 18-20 per cent. If we achieve a 30 per cent success rate, the project will be worthwhile,” Cheluvarayaswamy said.Project DetailsThe 60-day cloud seeing operation, involving about 200 flying hours, is estimated to cost approximately ₹27 crore. The operation will be undertaken through the Water Resources Department across the State’s four revenue divisions, subject to the availability of suitable clouds. Rainfall is expected within a 15-km radius of the cloud-seeding location. September is considered the most suitable period as dense clouds are expected to be more prevalent, while cloud cover is likely to decline in October.As per the IMD data, Karnataka has faced a cumulative deficit of 22 per cent his monsoon season, so far, with the state as a whole receiving actual rainfall of 497.8 mm against a normal of 636.6 mm. In the meteorological sub-division of North Interior Karnataka, the cumulative rainfall deficit is 15 per cent with the region receiving actual rainfall of 269.5 mm against a normal of 318.1 mm.Water ShortagesIn South Interior Karnataka, the rainfall deficit is 23 per cent with actual precipitation of 385.9 mm against a normal for the region of 502.6 mm. In Coastal Karnataka, the cumulative rain deficit is 23 per cent as the region has received actual rainfall of 2038.2 mm against a normal of 2663 mm.The move to take up cloud seeding comes amid concerns that the current rainfall deficit could result in water shortages in the coming months.Published on August 25, 2026
