The experiment involves releasing a cloud of sodium iodide from an aircraft about six to seven kms above the earth between the natural clouds. This generates heat up to 650 degrees Celsius among the clouds which might result in condensation. This, in turn, would lead to rains.

The project has been started by the State Agriculture Department. Agriculture Minister Becharbhai Bhadani and officials of the department consulted a non-governmental institute, Kutchi Visha Oswal Jain Mahajan Sangh, which carries out such projects every year in Kutch district. The project has been partially successful in the last seven years, as per the statistics of theinstitute.

The project in charge for Rajkot Maganbhai Kachorola said that two places had been selected for the project in Rajkot district, including Rajkot and Morbi. The project will be carried out here for the next 9 days, for which Rs 4 lakh has been allocated.

Meanwhile, water has become a precious commodity in Saurashtra these days. With even the tail-end of the failed monsoon playing truant, the entire Saurashtra region, barring Junagadh district, has been gripped by severe water scarcity. Special prayers and offerings for rain have failed. Dams are dry, and water at other sources is getting scarcer by the day.

Despite the planning, municipal corporations and Nagar Palikas find themselves in trouble. Officials are unsure of what will happen in the next few months.

``It gives me the jitters!'' says Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Raj Gopal. And Jamnagar Municipal Commissioner Pankaj Joshi says, ``Let's pray for rain.''

Surendranagar is on the verge of a drought. The Dholidhayra dam, the mainsource, has gone dry and the government has been forced to review the situation and release Rs 20 crore for sinking bore wells and laying pipelines. Residents are supplied drinking water once in seven days.

``Next week, we don't know whether we will receive even a few bucketfuls or not,'' says Shaktisinh Jhalla, a worker at the district collectorate.

If that is the situation in Surendranagar city, it is even worse in the interior villages of this drought-prone district.