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KARNATAKA: CLOUD SEEDING BEARS FRUIT: LAKES IN CENTRAL KARNATAKA COME ALIVE

The state government’s ambitious cloud-seeding project, Varshadhare, failed to bring the desired effect after it was tried for over a week in South Interior Karnataka.

But a week-long operation over Central Karnataka has not only yielded the desired result, but also filled lakes that have been parched for years.

Bountiful rains over Dharwad, Hubballi and Haveri under the cloud-seeding project appear to have revived the confidence of the state government, especially the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department, that was slammed initially for its futile exercise. Sources in the RDPR department told BM Yeraguppi Lake near Kundagol of Dharwad has been dry for over 7-8 years as the area was reeling under severe drought. “We had cloud-seeding operations in Central Karnataka over Dharwad, Hubballi, Haveri and Gadag. The seeding has resulted in sporadic rainfall in various areas,” said a RDPR department officer.

CS Shivalli, MLA from Kundagol, said, “The lake has a water-holding capacity of 0.5 tmc ft. While the other parts of the state used to get rains at least during cyclone, there was no trace of rains in and around Yeraguppi. The lake is the only source of potable water. The rains over three days resulted in the filling of the lake for the first time in the last eight years.”

The rain around the area has also left enough moisture in the soil helping the farmers to take up cultivation. Farmers also offered prayers to the lakes a few days ago. “The state government is also planning to set up a water purification plant on the banks of the lake at a cost of Rs 30 lakh,” Shivalli said.

Yeraguppi Lake is not the only lake that has filled up in the region. Gudenakatti lake with a storage capacity of 0.4 tmc ft has also filled to brim and other lakes and check-dams in the region are overflowing, officials said.