Cloud-seeding to help planting season

JATILUHUR, W. Java: Some 200 million cubic meters of water is expected to pour down on the Citarum river basin, West Java, when cloud seeding starts at the end of the month.

Director of Jatiluhur Authority, Muhamad Ulama, was quoted by Antara as saying that artificial rain was expected to start falling on the area by the end of September until early October.

The water from the rain will be held at reservoirs in Saguling, Cirata and Jatiluhur. Water levels at the reservoirs have dropped significantly due to the long dry season.

Ulama said some 260 million cubic meters of water would be needed for 80,000 hectares of farmland by the beginning of planting season in mid-October.

Only 108 million cubic meters of water is left in the reservoirs. (aan)