China is facing the worst drought in 61 years. 165 cities of the country are receiving constant heat warning alerts. In middle and south China, the temperature has crossed 42 degrees Celsius in 25 cities. In order to battle increasing temperatures and drought, President Xi Jinping turned to cloud seeding and artificial rainfall in two provinces. As a result of which, fifteen cities in the provinces of Sichuan and Chungcheong have come under the threat of floods and landslides.
Cloud seeding involves the induction of artificial water vapour in clouds. Due to the extreme summers an drought, the soil’s ability to absorb water got reduced and therefore, the high amounts of water could not be seeped into it and mountains could not reduce the heavy water-flow.
1 lakh people have been relocated to safer places from these cities. Jinping’s ‘scientific step’ of artificial rains is now becoming a factor behind political tumult. In the September session of the Communist Party of China, the official confirmation of Jinping’s third tenure is scheduled. On top of all this, corona cases are still a menace in the country.
In the wake of increasing cases, Shenzhen’s wholesale electronic market, the largest in the world, has been shut down for an indefinite period of time.
The lack of water due to the extreme heat and low rainfall has caused the reduction in the production of hydro-power, on which China is mainly dependent. Many hydro-power plants are shut and hence, there is a power shortage across the country. China recorded 40% less rainfall in the months of July-August as compared to the last year. The Yangtze River, basically the lifeline of 40 crore people of China, has dried up. In six provinces, including Sichuan, 22 lakh hectares of crops have dried up.
