अद॑र्द॒रुत्स॒मसृ॑जॊ॒ वि खानि॒ त्वम॑र्ण॒वान्ब॑द्बधा॒नाँ अ॑रम्णाः ।
म॒हान्त॑मिन्द्र॒ पर्व॑तं॒ वि यद्वः सृ॒जॊ वि धारा॒ अव॑ दान॒वं ह॑न् ॥
(Breaking open the cloud You create the channels (for rain)!
You strike fast the mammoth cloud!
Oh Indra! You cast open the mountain of cloud making the showers, destroying the darkness!)
Indra is the god of rain in Hinduism. It is said that he conquered rain and brought it down to earth. Indra holds a very important position in the lives of Indians, considering the fact that India is an agricultural country and farmers’ in India depend on the rain for their crops. It is believed that Indra is the one who causes lightening, the rains, and the rivers to flow and thus contributes in making our land fertile.
In ancient times people had faith in God and Gods blessed them in abundance.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna in Gita says:
अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः।
यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः।।3.14।।
Everyone’s is born of food(anna), food (anna) comes from rains. Rains come from Yagya (the act of worshiping the rain god as well as the Yagya of agriculture) and from Yagya comes from Karma
But things aren’t as rosy currently. India has face many deadly droughts leading to the deaths of several farmers but never did our leaders take the necessary steps to solve the water woes. But exceptions are everywhere, and one finds them in Indian politics also.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is a man with a vision, unlike any the country has seen. The UP government in its new ambitious plan to tackle drought will use helicopters for artificial rain. The Yogi Government in association with IIT Kanpur has prepared a project to solve the water woes in drought affected areas of Uttar Pradesh, by employing the artificial rain technology.
The irrigation department of UP is working to implement this plan on the ground. According to a news report, Irrigation Minister of UP Dharmpal Singh has said that a total of 5.5 crore rupees would be spent on the artificial rain from helicopters in the thousand square kilometer area. Dharmpal Singh announced that due to insufficient rainfall this year during the monsoon, the artificial rain project would commence from Bundelkhand. Since CM Yogi has come to power, he has showed great interest in the development of Bundelkhand, which is one of the most backward regions of Uttar Pradesh and a constant victim of droughts. Dharmpal Singh guaranteed that all the farmers of the drought affected areas of the state would get the advantage of this technology.
Process of Artificial Rain:
Chemicals like Calcium Oxide, compound of Urea and Ammonium Nitrate or Chloride Calcium Carbonate are used to stimulate the air mass upwind of target areas to rise and form clouds. Then dry ice or silver iodide is sprinkled from helicopters, and as a result of chemical sprinkling, it starts to rain. The irrigation department has overseen the project in the presence of the specialists from IIT Kanpur. IIT Kanpur has already arranged for all the necessary equipment required for the artificial rain.
China had earlier refused to share the technology for artificial rain with India. Other countries which posses this technology are Israel, Indonesia, Russia and Mexico. The irrigation Minister of UP said that scientists of IIT Kanpur achieved success in developing the technique of artificial rain after China refused to share it with India. Earlier, China had agreed to share the technology with India, but then backed off.
Dharampal Singh also said, “After the end of monsoon season, the artificial rain project will start from Bundelkhand. The government tried to buy this technology from China but it that didn’t end well. In the beginning, China had agreed to give this technique in 11 crores, but later refused. ” Singh said IIT Kanpur solved this serious problem and now the artificial rain can be made to fall in the 1000 sq. Km for just 5.5 crore rupees.
Despite all the difficulties and a hostile media, the Yogi Government has once again it has proven its dedication and commitment for the cause of the farmers. Earlier, the Yogi Government cracked down heavily upon the wheat mafia of the state. CM Yogi had also gone after the wheat procurement centres that delayed payment to farmers. In March 2018, the Yogi Government had announced Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 1,735 per quintal (100 kg), along with an additional Rs 10 per quintal as transportation charges. Yogi Government had declared minimum support price for the potatoes at Rs. 686 per quintal, with an inclusive cost of Rs. 137 for transportation and warehousing. This came as a relief to the farmers, because the crops for the current year were much better than that of the previous year. Not just this, the support price was also raised to Rs. 1150 per quintal, which improved the conditions of the potato farmers, ailing for the past 3 years.
In a political environment, where politicians find it more convenient to forget their promises rather than implementing them effectively, it is very heartening to see a government led by a leader like Yogi Adityanath, who is actually living up to the promises he made. We only hope that his governance continues to flourish .
And this monsoon, Yogi Adityanath is set to play the proverbial Indra. Yogi Adityanath will make it rain!
