Karnataka Government Plans ₹27 Crore Cloud Seeding Initiative to Combat Monsoon Rainfall Deficit

The Karnataka Government is set to undertake a cloud seeding operation over the next 60 days to enhance precipitation and address a prevailing rain deficit across the state. The initiative is scheduled to commence within two days through the Water Resources Department.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Karnataka has recorded a cumulative rainfall deficit of 22 percent this monsoon season. The state received an actual rainfall of 497.8 mm against the normal benchmark of 636.6 mm. Region-wise breakdowns indicate a 15 percent deficit in North Interior Karnataka, where actual rainfall reached 269.5 mm against a normal of 318.1 mm. South Interior Karnataka faced a 23 percent deficit with 385.9 mm of actual precipitation against a normal of 502.6 mm, while Coastal Karnataka also recorded a 23 percent deficit with 2038.2 mm against the normal 2663 mm.

To execute the exercise, the state is setting up three panels: a technical committee, a monitoring committee, and a field operations and evaluation committee. These committees comprise state officials alongside experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and the meteorological department.

N Cheluvarayaswamy, Karnataka Minister for Water Resources, Major and Medium Irrigation, stated that cloud seeding has been previously undertaken three times in the state with a documented success rate of 18 to 20 percent. He noted that achieving a 30 percent success rate would make the project worthwhile.

The 60-day operation involves approximately 200 flying hours and carries an estimated cost of ₹27 crore. Operations will span the state's four revenue divisions, subject to the availability of suitable clouds. Rainfall is anticipated within a 15-kilometer radius of each cloud-seeding location. Authorities view September as the most suitable period due to a higher prevalence of dense clouds, compared to October when cloud cover is expected to decline.

This intervention comes amid growing concerns that the ongoing rainfall deficit could lead to water shortages in the coming months.

"The decision by the Karnataka government to allocate ₹27 crore for cloud seeding highlights the direct economic impact of environmental and climatic variables on regional infrastructure and agriculture. For businesses, particularly in agriculture and resource-dependent sectors, weather unpredictability introduces operational risks that require strategic foresight and risk management. Collaborative state initiatives involving premier academic institutions like IIT and IISc demonstrate a structured approach to utilizing scientific intervention to mitigate resource shortages." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes