Karnataka turns to cloud seeding to tackle drought

With the monsoon having failed majorly over south Karnataka, the state government has decided to go for cloud seeding in the state.Water Resources Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy, along with Minister HK Patil on Friday flags off the Cloud Seeding programme organised by the state's Water Resources Department at the HAL Airport in Bengaluru. Minister HK Patil said, Cloud seeding is not gambling. It is science and he is sure this year's 2026 cloud seeding experiment will definitely bring a lot of good results for farmers and for Karnataka at large.  The total cost of the cloud seeding is expected to be approximately Rs 28 crore. The state has witnessed a 31 per cent deficit in rainfall, with as many as 175 of the 240 taluks suffering due to lack of monsoon. N Chaluvarayaswamy said, "Cloud seeding started on Friday. This was tried in 2003 as well. At that time, it achieved a success rate of 27%. This time, it is not about success or failure. This is for the benefit of the farmers. The current situation is really bad for drinking water, farmers, agriculture... So we are expecting a success rate of minimum 20-25%.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | Karnataka Water Resources Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy says, "Cloud seeding started today. This was tried in 2003 as well... At that time, it achieved a success rate of 27%. This time, it is not about success or failure. This is for the benefit of the… https://t.co/1tX9lWlB5O pic.twitter.com/v3bgFzEdPP

— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2026

Earlier, the Karnataka government has formed two committees to take up cloud seeding in parts of the state in view of the drought situation. An order was issued on August 28 for constitution of the two committees — Monitoring Committee and Technical Advisory and Evaluation Committee for the implementation of the Cloud Seeding Programme during the current year. The committees will work towards ensuring the scientific implementation of cloud seeding operations and their effective execution in areas facing rainfall deficiency, officials said. The Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner of the state government will be the chairperson of the committee. It will have six members and the Managing Director of the Karnataka Irrigation Corporation will be the Member Secretary, it said.
The Technical Advisory and Evaluation Committee will provide technical support, guidance and advice to the KSNDMC on various aspects of the cloud seeding programme. The Director of the KSNDMC will be the chairperson of the committee. It will comprise eight members, one Member Secretary and one Special Invitee.
According to IMD official for cloud seeding, the right density of cumulonimbus and cumulous clouds should be present, but which are absent at the moment. There should also be an off-shore trough and favourable wind pattern, and at least 55-60mm moisture present in the atmosphere between the ground surface and clouds, for cloud seeding to be done. This year, the systems over the Arabian Sea are poor when compared to the Bay of Bengal, it explained. 
This is the reason why northern parts of India are experiencing good rainfall. The monsoon trough in the Western Ghats region is helping coastal and North Karnataka get rain. But interior Karnataka and south interior Karnataka is experiencing poor rainfall,” the IMD official said.
Cloud seeding is a weather-modification technique used to influence precipitation by dispersing substances into clouds, intending to increase rainfall or snowfall, reduce hail or disperse fog. Cloud seeding can enhance precipitation from an existing cloud but cannot manufacture a rain bearing system in a clear sky. The process also depends on moisture within clouds, supercooled water droplets, wind direction and humidity.

(State Correspondent)