Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Wednesday said it would take up cloud seeding by the end of June, amid reports forecasting deficit rainfall. The government has already called for tenders for two years and will spend an estimated Rs 88 crore forthe purpose. "In newspapers we are seeing that in 2019 there is a possibility of deficit rainfall. We have already takenprecautionary measures regarding this- for 2019-20 and 2020-21-for two years we have decided to implement cloud seeding,"Rural Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said. He said the government would award the tender in a week to 10 days.

"By June end, we will begin the cloud seeding process in the state. The tender has been called for two years together. Anexpert committee had also given similar recommendation," he said. For two years together, the estimated cost would be Rs 88 crore, he said, briefing mediapersons after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's video conferencing with Deputy Commissioners of districts andCEO of Zilla Panchayats on drought in the state. Pointing out that cloud seeding earlier used to be done by August, by which time the monsoon would have almost ended, Gowda said that to avoid it, the government decided this time to go forthe exercise at the onset of the monsoon. There will be two centres at Bengaluru and Hubbali for cloud seeding, with two aircraft, he said.