Karnataka govt to take up cloud seeding, amid monsoon worries
Bengaluru, May 15: The Karnataka government 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 for the purpose.
"In newspapers we are seeing that in 2019 there is a possibility of deficit rainfall.
We have already taken precautionary 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.
An expert committee had also given similar recommendation," he said.
For two years together, the estimated cost would be Rs 88 crore, he said, briefing media persons after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's video conferencing with Deputy Commissioners of districts and CEO 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 for the exercise at the onset of the monsoon.
There will be two centres at Bengaluru and Hubballi for cloud seeding, with two aircraft, he said.
"If there is good rain in one region, the centre there can be shifted as additional centre to where there is lack of rain. It will also be based on cloud cover," he said.
Revenue Minister R V Deshpande said the government was taking steps to manage drought on a "war footing" and that he has directed all Deputy Commissioners and CEOs to tour the districts to assess the situation.
Tahsildars have also been asked to travel to villages, panchayat headquarters and urban areas to understand the ground reality and work effectively, he said.
He also termed as 'far from the truth,' Opposition leader B S Yeddyurappa's criticism of the government's management of drought and pointed out that due to the model code of conduct in force, the Chief Minister and Ministers had no powers to hold review meetings until recently, when they were permitted by the Election Commission to do so.
The ministers said the government has taken steps to provide drinking water through tankers, wherever there was shortage.
In most places there was fodder stock for 12 weeks and corrective measures were being taken in areas facing shortage.
Gowda said a total of 2,999 villages in the state faced acute drinking water shortage.
Among them in 1632 villages, 2322 tankers are being used to supply water and 1873 borewells have been taken on rent to provide water to 1367 villages.
Of the total of 6,428 urban wards, 451 wards are being provided water through tankers, he added.
"DCs have Rs 713 crore, it should be used for borewell and tanker payments.
Wherever new borewells are needed task forces have been given Rs 200 crore by RDPR department," they said, adding that call centres have been started at every taluk, district and also state level to address drinking water shortage.
Jobs were also being provided under MNREGA to stop migration of people from affected areas, they said.
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Nora Fatehi apologises before NCW over 'Sarke Chunar' row, vows support for orphan girls
New Delhi (PTI): Actor Nora Fatehi on Thursday appeared before the National Commission for Women in connection with a controversy surrounding the song 'Sarke Chunar' and apologised, saying there was "no intention to offend anybody."
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Fatehi said she had been put in a situation unintentionally but acknowledged her responsibility as an artist.
"It was just a situation that I was put in, and there was no intention to offend anybody. But of course, I have to be responsible as an artiste. I definitely apologise, we have done everything in writing. They have been so kind and helpful," she said.
The actor also said she has decided to sponsor the education of a few orphan girls.
"It's really important for us to give back to society. So, I decided that we should sponsor a few orphan girls, their education, so that is the goal after this matter," she said.
Earlier, Fatehi distanced herself from the Hindi version of the song, saying she had shot the Kannada version and that her permission was not taken for its use in Hindi.
The Hindi version of the song, released on March 15 on YouTube, triggered outrage among a section of the public over its allegedly explicit lyrics.
Following the backlash, the makers removed the Hindi version from YouTube, though it continued to circulate across platforms. The lyricist, singer and director have also issued apologies.
'KD The Devil' is a Kannada film, dubbed in four languages, including Hindi.
