From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Belagavi, Dec 8: With cloudy weather conditions being predicted in the next three to four days and the State reeling under severe drought situation with as many as 126 out of the 136 taluks declared as drought-hit, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday told the Legislative Assembly that the State Government will consider attempting cloud seeding to mitigate the situation.

Shivakumar, who also is minister for water resources said he was willing to consider the proposal in view of the prevailing weather forecasts of cloudy conditions for the next three to four days. However, he promised to discuss the issue with officials to finalise the technical details and whether to issue a short-term tender for the purpose before taking a decision.

Answering questions raised by Congress MLA Prakash Koliwad, the deputy chief minister said previous experiments with cloud seeding in different parts of Karnataka had yielded positive results and the government is inclined to consider such a proposal again for the benefit of the State’s farmers.

He said the expenditure on cloud seeding is not much and the government wants to follow a suitable process to avoid criticism from the opposition members. Karnataka is passing through a severe drought with the failure of the south-east monsoon.

Koliwad said the present climate conditions were ideal and if a decision on cloud seeding is not taken quickly, the opportunity to take up cloud seeding will be lost. He offered to take up cloud seeding at his own cost if the government gives him permission and pointed out that procedural delays should not come in the way.