BMC invites EoI for cloud seeding in the city

At present Mumbai is recording moderate air quality, however last week the city’s AQI oscillated between satisfactory and good categories following the unseasonal rains.

The BMC’s move came weeks after chief minister Eknath Shinde said that if the city’s air quality worsens, artificial rains could be carried out to improve the quality. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday invited a global Expression of Interest (EoI) for commercial firms and organisations that have licensed authorisation for carrying out artificial rains through cloud seeding.

The EoI was invited by the BMC’s environment department and the civic body said that any firms around the globe that are involved in cloud seeding for the past three years would be eligible for participation. The BMC’s move came weeks after chief minister Eknath Shinde said that if the city’s air quality worsens, artificial rains could be carried out to improve the quality.

Also read | Mumbai air pollution: BMC in talks with Dubai-based firm to carry out cloud seeding, says CM Eknath Shinde

At present Mumbai is recording moderate air quality, however last week the city’s AQI oscillated between satisfactory and good categories following the unseasonal rains. “Even though the AQI has improved we want to keep all the avenues open because winter is still left and if the situation worsens between the months of December and February, then we may carry out natural cleansing through artificial rains,” said an official.

While the deadline for submitting applications for the interested firms is on December 14, officials maintained that it will take two months to appoint the consultant through proper tendering. The officials said that after the civic body receives response from interested firms a scrutiny of documents will be carried out, following which tenders will be floated.

Mumbai’s AQI on Friday stood at 129, which falls in the Moderate category. Shivaji Nagar in Mankhurd recorded the worst AQI of 207, followed by 166 in Sewri and 164 in Kandivali. Borivli had the best AQI of 88, followed by 90 in Worli and 99 in Colaba.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram