"In cooperation with the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BBPT), we will use weather modification technology to move the cumulonimbus (rainy cloud) to outside flood-prone areas. The project will last for two months and we have set aside Rp13 billion in funds for it," BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said here on Sunday.
He noted that the agency will conduct the weather modification project to accelerate the clouds turned into rain by deploying four aircraft, consisting of one C-130 Hercules from the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) and three CASA 212-200s.
"The flight for weather modification project will be conducted every day to drop artificial rain. With this technology, it is possible for us to drop the rain out of flood-prone areas and move it to the sea," Nugroho said.
He further said it is the first time for the agency to prevent floods using weather modification technology (WMT). BNPB has so far cooperated with BPPT in handling and preventing forest fires and droughts almost every year using WMT.
"So, by applying WMT, we prevent floods by inhibiting the growth of cloud, in which we are going to put up 25 spots of GBG (Ground-Based Generator) that burn flares containing hygroscopic materials, such as Sodium Chloride (NaCl)," he explained.
"We expect this method will reduce rainfall in Jakarta by about 30 percent," he continued.
Nugroho added, the weather modification operation will be supported by three units of cloud and weather movement monitoring device and six meteorological stations. The Hercules post will be at the Halim Perdanakusuma airport while the Cassa post will be at Pondok Cabe airfield.
He further said BNPB had asked for confirmation from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) that there would be no potential extreme rain on January 27.
"We have assured that all the rivers flowing through Jakarta are in a safe state, so there is no need for the local residents to worry about," he said.
(Y012/S012)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
