<p>A private company is trying its hand on a new mission to create artificial rains in the desert state of Rajasthan.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The company, headquartered in Udaipur, plans to use cloud seeding technology in three districts of Udaipur division, namely Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Rajsamand on an experimental basis. <br /><br />This is the first time in the country that a private company has taken such an initiative without any government aid. <br /><br />Company sources say they have hired a special plane for cloud seeding to create artificial rains. <br /><br />The plane has already reached Udaipur. The firm, Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company, was waiting for the right time to launch the experiment in Rajasthan. <br /><br />“We have obtained all permissions from government departments. We are waiting for cloud formation,” said a spokesperson. Company sources say the initiative will cost between Rs 15 and Rs 20 crore.<br /><br />Dry ice<br /><br />Cloud seeding is the process of introducing chemicals — which has dry ice or more commonly sodium or potassium chloride and silver iodine aerosols — into the upper part of clouds to try to stimulate the precipitation process and start rains. <br /><br />First, scientists observe different monsoon clouds over catchment of lakes using an aircraft to measure temperature, wind, liquid water droplets and aerosol background. Then random cloud seeding experiments are carried out using an aircraft quipped with special equipment.<br /><br />Finally, the lead aircraft will spray hygroscopic particles (salts) that can broaden water droplets in clouds and hasten the onset of precipitation formation.<br /><br />China has the largest cloud seeding system in the world. It used cloud seeding in Beijing just before the 2008 Olympics.<br /></p>
<p>A private company is trying its hand on a new mission to create artificial rains in the desert state of Rajasthan.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The company, headquartered in Udaipur, plans to use cloud seeding technology in three districts of Udaipur division, namely Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Rajsamand on an experimental basis. <br /><br />This is the first time in the country that a private company has taken such an initiative without any government aid. <br /><br />Company sources say they have hired a special plane for cloud seeding to create artificial rains. <br /><br />The plane has already reached Udaipur. The firm, Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company, was waiting for the right time to launch the experiment in Rajasthan. <br /><br />“We have obtained all permissions from government departments. We are waiting for cloud formation,” said a spokesperson. Company sources say the initiative will cost between Rs 15 and Rs 20 crore.<br /><br />Dry ice<br /><br />Cloud seeding is the process of introducing chemicals — which has dry ice or more commonly sodium or potassium chloride and silver iodine aerosols — into the upper part of clouds to try to stimulate the precipitation process and start rains. <br /><br />First, scientists observe different monsoon clouds over catchment of lakes using an aircraft to measure temperature, wind, liquid water droplets and aerosol background. Then random cloud seeding experiments are carried out using an aircraft quipped with special equipment.<br /><br />Finally, the lead aircraft will spray hygroscopic particles (salts) that can broaden water droplets in clouds and hasten the onset of precipitation formation.<br /><br />China has the largest cloud seeding system in the world. It used cloud seeding in Beijing just before the 2008 Olympics.<br /></p>
