In the next two months, the civic body will conduct its first-ever aerial exercise in cloud seeding that will ensure no water cuts
In the next two months, the civic body will conduct its first-ever u00a0aerial exercise in cloud seeding that will ensure no water cuts
An aircraft, a tower mounted radar unit, some sodium chloride and a clear-cut water management plan is all that's needed to ensure that Mumbai doesn't face water cuts again.
Captain Arvind Sharma, CEO of Bangalore-based Agni Aviation, will soon carry out BMC's first-ever aerial exercise in cloud seeding (see box). As of now, the BMC has experimented with cloud seeding from the ground.
Thrice a year
The BMC believes that Mumbai's water requirements will be taken care of if the lakes always have sufficient water.
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"This can be easily done through a systematic cloud seeding procedure that will be repeated three times annually," said Capt Sharma, who has been carrying out cloud seeding for the Andhra Pradesh government for the seventh consecutive year.
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BMC Commissioner Jairaj Phatak agrees with Capt Sharma. "The civic body will use cloud seeding to induce rains in October 2009 when the monsoon starts receding and follow it up in mid May 2010, when pre-monsoon clouds gather," he said.
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Mumbai's need for a water management project is also important due to its peculiar patterns once there is rainfall and flooding, it's followed by a dry spell resulting in water shortage.
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From Nashik airport
The activity, to be conducted in the next two months, will require the setting up of a weather radar that has a scanning capability of over a 150 km area.
The radar is used to detect clouds. Sharma and his team have settled on a plot of land close to the Modak Sagar dam, located about 45 kms from Thane. The radar will be brought in from Bangalore.
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Speaking of the major challenges in the project, Capt Sharma said, "A major factor is that the life of a cloud is limited, not lasting more than 40 minutes.
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So, from sensing the cloud to an aircraft taking off and reaching the spot has to well be completed within that time," he explained.
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Accordingly, the aircraft carrying the calcium chloride flares will take off from Nashik airport and not Mumbai. "Mumbai is a busy airport, while Nashik is calmer and better logistically," said Capt Sharma.
Cloud Seeding
Cloud seeding is the process of blasting 12-15 flares of solid sodium chloride into the upper part of clouds to try to stimulate the precipitation process and form rain.
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A twin-engine aircraft flying at 300 kmph and that reaches 25,000 ft operated by a pilot, co-pilot and an instrument manager is used.
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