Aircraft for cloud seeding may come from South Africa, not Israel

Mumbai: With rain playing truant, especially in the catchment areas where the water-supplying lakes are situated, the BMC hopes to start an experiment on cloud seeding in September. Though the decision is yet to be finalized, the civic body has already been forced to tweak its plan for the exercise. It was supposed to procure an aircraft from Israel for the procedure, but owing to hassles over clearances, it is now looking to get one from South Africa.
The civic body will first have to take the permission of the Directorate-General of Civil aviation on the air space to be used by a plane. ".. If we do opt for cloud seeding, it will be in September, as the frequency of appearance of 'seedable' clouds is more at that time. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 12 crore but it could rise," said additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta.
The BMC is negotiating with My Avni, a firm that will bring an aircraft from South Africa.
22/08/12 Times of India

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Categories: Foreign Aug 2012