Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government is planning to install anti-hail guns to protect crops from hailstorms that are common in the hilly state.

State Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta told IANS Monday that the government might purchase anti-hail guns from Spain-based Innovative Solutions.

Every year, hailstorms damage 20-30 percent of crop of vegetables and fruits.

This year the hailstorm had badly hit the apple crop in the mid-hill areas of Kullu and Shimla districts.

Experts from Spain Monday gave á demonstration of the anti-hail gun to officials of the central agriculture ministry in New Delhi, where Bragta was also present.

Innovative Solutions chairman Robert Sessler told the officials that his company was ready to transfer the technology to India and would propose to set up a manufacturing unit in Himachal Pradesh.

The anti-hail guns send shock waves into the pressure area where hail clouds are formed, puncturing them and bringing down harmless rains instead of the hails.

A single gun can cover over 300 hectares of area and it is eco-friendly as the gases released from the guns are not greenhouse gases, according to the company.

Meanwhile, the ministry has sanctioned Rs.8 million to the Himachal Pradesh government to take preventive measures to check hailstorm losses.

 

Source : IANS