What is cloud seeding?
Cloud seeding is a process of enhancing precipitation by dropping dry ice crystals or silver iodide particles over developing storm clouds in a specific area of the atmosphere. The BMC had planned the project in the backdrop of the subnormal rainfall this season until a fortnight ago when it began to pour.
Why did the BMC give up the plans?
With catchment areas brimming with rain water, the BMC has decided to give up its plan to conduct cloud seeding experiments across reservoirs to increase rainfall. This will save the civic body a whopping Rs 24 crore, the estimated cost of the project. The civic body had also invited bids with two companies competing for the project, but is yet to finish the tender allocation process.
So do we have enough water now?
As on Friday, the useful content available across seven dams supplying water to Mumbai was 8,92,722 million litres. The civic body usually supplies 3,750 million litres of water to Mumbai daily. The corporation has at present implemented a 10 per cent cut. "We will be relieved if the water stock crosses the limit of 11 lakh million litres to 12.50 lakh million litres. Over the past few days, the rainfall has caused a rise in stock and we still have two monsoon months to go. Hence, we don't intend to carry out cloud seeding now," said a senior civic official who did not wish to be named.
2 lakh water bill defaulters still owe BMC Rs 1,000 crore
The BMC officer said that the hydraulic engineering department is mulling stricter norms owing to water charge defaulters. As reported in dna, around 2 lakh defaulters are yet to clear dues to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore. "Recovery of dues is high on our agenda. This will deter the public from using water without paying for the valuable resource," he said.
Use water judiciously, says BMC
"We are lucky to have received adequate showers when needed the most. But it may not be the case in time to come. We request citizens to use water judiciously. We are going to undertake a water conservation programme anyway in the long run," said the BMC official.
