BMKG Head Dwikorita Karnawati stated that the Rp25 billion budget comprises Rp22.09 billion (around US$1.44 million) for weather modification operations and Rp2.91 billion (around US$189,778) for weather modification management.
"The largest, Rp19.02 billion (around US$1.25 million), is focused on weather modification in early action for reducing or preventing extreme hydrometeorological (events)," she said during a meeting with Commission V of the DPR in Jakarta on Tuesday.
She explained that during the implementation, there will be 40 days of weather modification operations to prevent extreme hydrometeorological events.
During the operations, aircraft will fly six hours per day to spray sodium chloride (NaCl) into potential clouds, as determined by the BMKG.
She noted that the additional budget is still far from the needs of nationwide weather modification operations, namely Rp700 billion (around US$45.6 million).
Nevertheless, she affirmed that her agency will attempt to utilize the budget optimally by cooperating with other relevant ministries and agencies.
"It is hard to bring down the risks to zero, but we can at least reduce the risks of extreme rainfall that can trigger hydrometeorological disasters," she remarked.
According to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), in 2023, Indonesia was hit by 5,400 disasters, 95 percent of which were hydrometeorological in nature, such as floods and landslides.
Despite the number having risen by 52 percent as compared to the previous year, the BNPB stated that the damage and death toll could be reduced drastically with support from technology innovation for prevention, among other measures.
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Translator: M Riezko, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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