Scientists call for cloud seeding to tame wildfire

The massive wildfire that destroyed over 4500 hectares in 2016 and nearly 150 hectares in the last two months in Uttarakhand is expected to rage through in the coming days, an advisory by Indian Meteorological Department has revealed. Scientists, however, claim that the government still lacks a proper mechanism to deal with the situation. Considering the vulnerability of the green cover, experts have now pressed for the need of ‘cloud seeding’- an artificial way of inducing moisture to the clouds that to bring rain.

Popularly adopted by countries like China and the US to combat droughts and for water accessibility, the scientific method is in practice since 1950s. The results have so far been encouraging. “Uttarakhand government should try cloud seeding at least once. It will help in locking moisture thereby, controlling wildfires,” suggests Anil Kumar Gupta, director Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG). Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had suggested this technology after the country’s capital was enveloped in smog post Diwali last year.

Kerala, too, had mooted this idea to get respite from drought, while in Maharashtra the idea was scrapped after it received above average rainfall.

Last year, the hill state government paid ₹85 for every litre of water that was dropped by air force Mi-17 choppers in Garhwal and Kumaon.