Tamil Nadu News

Artificial Rain Experiments in Tamil Nadu

November 8 , 2025 15 hrs 0 min 29 0

Tamil Nadu began exploring artificial rain-making (cloud seeding) in 1970 under discussions between the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the State government.
The first trials were held in 1973 around Tiruvallur by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), but no conclusive results were achieved.
In 1975, a Canadian firm conducted cloud-seeding operations over Chennai and the Nilgiris at a cost of ₹12 lakh, reporting around a 20% increase in rainfall.
In 1983, another series of operations was carried out by an American team led by Thomas Henderson, costing ₹26 lakh, followed by more trials in 1984.
The State government purchased an aircraft in 1983 for cloud-seeding.
In 1993, new trials were conducted, but scientists concluded that the rainfall increase did not exceed 20% above normal levels.
Later plans announced in 2003 under CM J. Jayalalithaa were not implemented due to unsuitable weather conditions.
With the addition of Krishna water, Veeranam tank, and desalination plants, Tamil Nadu’s reliance on artificial rain-making has become unnecessary in recent years.