IKN Speeded Up, BMKG Prepared 16 Tons Of Salt To Control Rain In The New Capital City

Illustration - Preparation for weather modification/DOC PHOTO via ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has prepared 16 tons of salt to be poured into the skies of the capital city of Nusantara (IKN), East Kalimantan (Kaltim), to control the potential for heavy rain in the region.

Head of BMKG Dwikorita Karnawati said IKN is one of the areas in East Kalimantan that has the potential to rain with a thickness of between 200 - 300 millimeters/month based on the results of basic analysis this June.

Meanwhile, at the same time, the construction of a number of strategic projects, including VVIP Airport and toll roads in the local area, is still ongoing and must be completed quickly.

Therefore, he said, BMKG tried to control it by seeding salt or NaCl in a series of Weather Modification Operations (OMC) which lasted until June 23, 2024, with the hope that rain would not hinder the development process.

Acting Deputy for Weather Modification of BMKG Tri Handoko Seto explained that in the implementation of OMC so far ten pieces of flights have been carried out that have packed the salt into a clump of rain clouds with a total of 21 hours 25 minutes of flights by the Casa 212-400 aircraft with registration A-2114 belonging to the Squadron 4 of the Indonesian Air Force.

"Premises are made in areas that have the potential to cause rain in areas where the infrastructure is being supported by VVIP IKN Airport and toll roads," he said.

Seto explained that the selection of the seeding area was prioritized in the wakewind area or the direction of the arrival of air wind which included the Makassar Strait, Kutai Kartanegara Regency and Paser Regency. This is so that rain clouds do not enter the target area, namely the area for development activities.

"We hope that OMC will have an impact and benefit for the wider community and mitigate the disaster risks that occur," he said.