To induce rains in Solapur, tyres, wood burnt

After spending crores of rupees on cloud-seeding techniques, which failed to yield results, the Solapur district administration hit upon the bizarre idea of burning tyres and wood in order to induce rain. Accordingly, residents burnt several quintals of wood and tyres on Saturday. Environmentalists staunchly opposed the move and condemned these attempts, which they said was creating immense air pollution. The administration, on the other hand, has claimed this method is scientific.

Mayuresh Prabhune, a science journalist, has tweeted, “When the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted rain, quintals of wood and tyres from 1,024 villages were burnt to create artificial rains. It is baffling, how in the name of science, these bogus practices are being implemented with the help of the local administration. In the name of rains, the administration itself has allowed the killing of 1,000s trees, are there any environment lovers in Mumbai and Solapur? Are there provisions in the law to book these ‘rainmen’ who play with the sentiments of farmers?" Critics have slammed these ‘scientific’ measures, saying there seems to be a drought of brains in an administration which has IAS officials.

The authorities are resorting to these last-ditch methods following the considerable lull in the rainfall in various parts of Maharashtra, with many regions in Marathawada and Vidarbha now facing a drought-like situation.