RAIN
SHADOW AREAS DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
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Government of Andhra
Pradesh created the Rain Shadow Areas Development Department in June
2004. Click  here for
Govt. Order No.133)
The basic objective of
the RSAD Department is to work for the improvement of livelihoods for
the people living in Rain deficient areas in the State. The Government
has identified areas that received less than 600 mm rainfall in 9 out
of the last 18 years as Rain Shadow Areas.(
Click  here for
district wise details of Rain Shadow Areas)
The RSAD Department has
been entrusted with the following subjects.
The new Department is hereby entrusted
with the following subjects:
1) Cloud-seeding
2) Use of bio-diesel
3) Lift Irrigation
4) Micro Irrigation
5) Watershed Development
6) Desalinization of sea water, and
7) Any other programs connected with the development such areas.
2. About
Department: The RSAD Department is headed by Secretary and assisted
by one Additional Secretary and other staff. At present, the activities
of the departments are concentrated in Ananthpur, Chittoor, Kadapa,
Kurnool, Mehboobnagar, Rangareddy, Nalgonda Medak, Prakasham and Nellore
districts. The Project Director, District Water Management Agency (DWMA)
are dealing with the subjects of department at district level and the
Commissioner, Rural development is the HOD at State level. The Office
of the department is located in 1st Floor, K’Block in the
Secretariat.
Organizational
Structure of the RSAD Department
Click  here for
Directory of personnel working in RSAD Department)
3. Programmes
of the Department: At present he Dept is dealing with Cloud seeding
programme and Bio-diesel plantation in the State.
3. Cloud seeding
programme:
Cloud Seeding
:
Cloud seeding is
the process of spreading either dry ice (or more commonly, silver iodide
aerosols) into the upper part of clouds to try to stimulate the precipitation
process and form rain. Since most rainfall starts through the growth
of ice crystals from super-cooled cloud droplets (droplets colder than
the freezing point, 32 deg. F) in the upper parts of clouds, the silver
iodide particles are meant to encourage the growth of new ice particles.
The history of cloud seeding has seen uncertain results because even
if a cloud rains after seeding, it is not known whether the cloud would
have rained anyway.
2. Cloud seeding
though a complex process in simple terms , it introduces other particles
into a cloud to serve as cloud condensation nuclei and aid in the formation
of precipitation. There are three types of cloud seeding: static mode,
dynamic mode, and hygroscopic seeding.
3. Static mode cloud
seeding seeks to increase rainfall by adding ice crystals (usually in
the form of silver iodide or dry ice) to cold clouds.
4. Dynamic mode cloud
seeding increases rainfall by enhancing "vertical air currents
in clouds and thereby vertically process more water through the clouds."
Basically, in this method of seeding, a much larger number of ice crystals
are added to the cloud than in the static mode.
5. In hygroscopic
seeding, salt crystals are released into a cloud. These particles grow
until they are large enough to cause precipitation to form. Clouds can
be seeded from above with the help of airplanes that drop pyrotechnics,
or from the ground by using artillery or ground-to-air rockets
Cloud Seeding
during 2003 :
Government of Andhra
Pradesh has taken up Cloud Seeding for the first time during 2003 duly
hiring one aircraft for 61 days for Ananthpur district. The radar services
of M/s Agni Aviation at Bangalore meant for cloud seeding in Karnataka
were utilized. Irrigation & CAD Department through WALAMTARI has
carried out the programme. The total cost of the project was Rs 2.5
crores.
Cloud Seeding
programme during 2004 :
1. Government started
Cloud Seeding Operations in 2004 to cover the Rain Shadow districts
utilizing 2 aircraft, (one from Hyderabad & another from Bangalore)
and Radar Station at Nandayal. The contract was awarded to M/s Agni
Aviations Consultants ,Bangalore supported by Weather Modification Co,
USA. The program commenced from 23.7.2004 .
2.
The cloud seeding activities
were extended to Northern Telangana districts by putting radar station
at Karimnagar and using one additional aircraft from Hyderabad and radar
at Karimnagar from September 2004.Radar from Karimnagar was shifted
to Tirumala during December to cover the Northwest monsoon.
3.The period of contract
was for 105 days with 150 free flying hours for each aircraft.
4.
Total cost of contract
was Rs. 19,72,61,716 .
Rs. 11,83,95630- First Contract.
Rs. 7,88,66,086- Second Contract.
5. Districts where cloud
seding conducted :Mehboobnagar, Rangareddy, Kurnool, Ananthpur, Kadapa,
Prakasham, Nalgonda, Guntur, Chittoor , Nellore , Warangal, Karimnagar,
Adilabad, Khammam, Medak & Nizamabad.
Total No. of Mandals
cloud seeded-510
6. Total days seeding
conducted-146 days (87 days seeded).
7. Total No. of days
rainfall received – 75
8. Total Flying Hours-
510 hrs.
9. 964 hygros (warm clouds),
161 BIPs and 1436 ejectables used.
10. 510 Mandals in 16
districts were covered.
11. Area of influence
covers 10420 Villages.
12.Cumulative rainfall
received 8574 mm in 87 days.
International Workshop
on Cloud Seeding:
The Govt conducted an
International Workshop on Weather Modification and Cloud Seeding Technologies
for Rain Water Enhancement on 27th 28th January, 2005. Various
experts of Companies with Cloud Seeding experience, Scientists from
reputed National Organizations, Officials, Academicians, Administrators
and villagers from 10 rain shadow area districts participated in this
International Workshop.
The major recommendations
of this workshop are as under:
Need for a comprehensive cloud
seeding Action Plan with latest technical support and sufficient research
components.
Immediate starting of Cloud
Seeding from 1st July, 2005 onwards.
Involving Central Agencies
and other related Scientific Institutions for experience sharing and
providing information.
Additional research suiting
local weather conditions for developing appropriate technology.
To set up a Weather Modification
Institute at Hyderabad preferably under Jawaharlal Nehru Technological
University(JNTU) to take up required research programme and associate
JNTU in with the ongoing programme including monitoring and evaluation
Organizational support to
RSAD Dept., to implement the cloud seeding programme during the year
2005 with recommendations to have support field Organization with qualified
personnel, Infrastructure and financial backup.
In brief the experts who participated
in the workshop strongly recommended to the state Government to continue
the cloud seeding operations, using the latest technology. They also
advised to incorporate the research and evaluation component in the
programme.
Cloud Seeding programme
2005:
The Government approved the
cloud seeding programme 2005 to cover the rain deficit districts of
Ananthpur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool, Mehboobnagar, Rangareddy, Nalgonda
Medak and parts of Prakasham and Nellore districts. An amount of Rs
25.80 crores was sanctioned for the programme.
The 2005 cloud seeding plan
consists of using 3 aircraft (two pressurized and one non-pressurized)
guided by 2 radar stations at Ananthpur and Ibrahimpatnam. The programme
is for 123 days.
A Tender Committee consisting
of Commissioner Relief and Disaster Management, Prl.Secretary (Finance),
Director Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Member Secretary AP
Council of Science and Technology (APCOST) and Secretary RSAD was constituted
to finalise the tenders
Governments called for tenders
from both the International and national bidders by putting tender document
in web site www.aponline.com and National dailies
The Tender Committee after
scrutiny of tender proposals recommended to the Government to award
the contract to M/s Agni Aviation Consultants Bangalore
The contract has been signed
with M/s Agni Aviation Consultant Bangalore on 07-05-2005. for an amount
of Rs 23.60 crores.( Click  here
for Contract agreement ).
The additional components
of the cloud seeding programme 2005 are as under.
Use of Low flying aircraft
for cloud seeding of warm clouds, which are common in Indian conditions.
Procure research data on cloud
physics and related fields so that the in depth studies of Indian conditions
can be made.
Involvement of reputed institutions
like JNTU and ANGRAU in the programme for effective monitoring, evaluation
and awareness building among the farmers in the districts.
The data available from Radar
Stations at Chennai and Machilipatnam of IMD is proposed to be obtained
for additional and effective coverage, which will be useful for decision
making in cloud seeding.
Orientation to farmers in
the rain deficit districts on the cloud seeding operations for awareness.
The cloud seeding programme
started from 21st June 2005 .
Government have entrusted
the responsibility of monitoring & evaluation of the cloud seeding
programme to Director, Institute of Science & Technology of JNTU.
A team consisting of consultants, retired meteorologists and technical
assistants is monitoring the programme.
The protocols for both the
warm cloud and cold clouds have been finalized by the members of technical
committee and are being followed for cloud seeding.
The performance of the programme
with reference to protocols and contract is being monitored by the Monitoring
cell of IST/JNTU.
The cloud seeding programme
is being critically monitored by the State Level Monitoring & Evaluation
Committee consisting of Minister RSAD and Minister Agriculture as members
along with other officials.
A Clearance Committee consisting
of Director IST/JNTU, Joint Secretary Finance & Addl Secretary RSAD
scrutinizes all bills submitted by contractor based on the performance
before making payment.
Brief summary
of the cloud seeding programme as on 30th September
2005
No. of districts covered:
10 Ananthpur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool, Mehboobnagar, Rangareddy, Nalgonda
Medak, Prakasham and Nellore.
No. of flares used
: Hygros 372, BIP 43 and Ejectables 123
No. of mandals seeded :182
No. of mandals under influence
zone:255
Total mandals including under
influence zone:437
Rainfall recorded in seeded
mandals:2082.4mm
Rainfall recorded in influence
mandals:27146.4mm
Total rainfall (including
influence mandals) :29228.8 mm
Rainfall attributed due to
Cloud Seeding of total at 15%:4384.3mm
No. of water (rainfall) samples
tested: 104
Samples with traces of chemicals
: 90
Click 
here for district wise details of cloud seeding.
BIO-DIESEL PROGRAMME:
Biodiesel is an alternative
to petroleum-based diesel fuel made from renewable resources such as
vegetable oils or animal fats. Chemically, it comprises of a mix of
mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids. A lipid transesterification
production process is used to convert the base oil to the desired esters
and remove free fatty acids. After this processing, unlike straight
vegetable oil, biodiesel has combustion properties very similar to those
of petroleum diesel, and can replace it in most current uses.
BIO DIESEL PROGRAMME
IN ANDHRA PRADESH:
Government decided to promote
Jatropha plantations in the Rain Shadow Areas districts, both under
irrigated and rain-fed conditions.
The District Collectors with
their Project directors District Water management Agency (DWMA) identified
about 16000 hectares covering 15000 farmers. Details are as under.
Under irrigation 7492.94
Hectare and 8007 farmers
Under rain fed condition8221.96
Hectares and 6965 farmers.
Government announced the following
incentives for the farmers taking up Jatropha plantations.
All required Jatropha seedlings
shall be provided free of cost to all farmers.
90 % subsidy not exceeding
Rs 50000/ per farmers shall be f\given for installing drip irrigation
system to all farmers.
Land development works including
pit digging, bunding etc shall be [aid for under the Food for Work and
Assigned Land Development programme for all eligible farmers.
37 MT of seed was procured
and 172 lakhs seedlings have been in the 10 districts .
Research & Development
on Jatropha
To provide systematic research
and development support, Government have sanctioned a Comprehensive
R & D Plan for Jatropha. Acharya N.G.Ranga Agri University (ANGRAU),
ICRISAT, CRIDA, NBPGRI, Directorate of OIL SEED & IICT have been
involved in the R&D Plan.
Under the R&D Plan, following
activities are taken up by ANGRAU and associated organizations.
Collection of germplasm by
NBPGRI both from within the State and outside.
Molecular characterization
of Jatropha and multiplication of elite planting material through issue
culture by DOR
Evaluation and standardization
of agro-techniques by ANGRAU, CRIDA and ICRISAT.
On-station trials at three
research stations and on-farm trials @ 10 hectares in each district.
Institute wise requirement
of funds and releases made during 2005 is as under:
Institute
Major activity
Amount required for 2005
(In lakhs)
Amount released for 2005
(In lakhs)
CRIDA
ICRISAT
ANGRAU
Germ plasm evaluation and standardization
of Agro technique on farm studies
Rs 11.7
Rs 11.7
Rs 15.77
Rs.22.00
Rs 22.00
Rs 27.00
NBGRI
Exploration, Identification & collection
of germ-plasm
Rs 10.98
Rs 5.00
DOR
Assessing genetic diversity, culture
establishment and mass multiplication
Rs 15.72
Rs 10.00
IICT
Study of physico-chemical properties,
oil & process development
Rs. 32.55
Rs 12.50
An amount of Rs 98.50 lakhs
has been released to these scientific institutions for the R&D work
on Jatropha
Click 
here for details of farmers and area identified under irrigated and
rainfed conditions for Jatropha plantations.
Click 
here for district wise details of Jatropha seedling raised.
Click 
here for latest progress of Jatropha plantations in the districts.
Contact Us: Any
information related to various activities of the Department can be obtained
from the following
Sri.G.V.Raghavan
Asst Secretary and Asst. Public Information Officer
Room No 222,
1st Floor K Block Secretariat, Hyderabad-22.
Phone No: 23450111 Extn 2949
Mobile:9849908581
Email: secyrsad@yahoo.com
2. M.C.Pargaien.,IFS
Addl.
Secretary & Public Information Officer
Room
No 221,
Phone
No: 23450111 Extn 2947
23450316
Mobile:
9849908580
Email: mpargaien@yahoo.co.in or secyrsad@yahoo.com
Sri.V.M.Manohara Prasad.,IAS
Secretary to Government,
Room No.223,
Phone
No: 23450111 Extn 2872
23450355
Mobile:
9849996327
Email:
secy_rsad@ap.gov.in
secyrsad@yahoo.com