Date:13/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/13/stories/2007071360521100.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Cloud-seeding begins

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Cloud-seeding operations to get rains over rain-shadow areas of the State began for the third consecutive year on Thursday, with a Cessna plane undertaking the job covering parts of Mahabubnagar district.

The plane took off from Hyderabad airport around 2 p.m., loaded with seeding material. A senior official from the Centre for Atmospheric Studies & Weather Modification Technologies overseeing the operations, said the plane flew over Nagar Kurnool area where rain-bearing clouds were indicated by the radar.

There was moderate rainfall in the area but whether this was due to the experiment, would be known only on Friday when the samples collected from villages would be analysed.

The official said the scientific experiment covering parts of Rayalaseema would be started on July 15 from Anantapur with another Cessna.

It would, however, be formally inaugurated by Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy.