Recent cloud seeding attempts in Delhi have failed to produce artificial rain, prompting a new report from IIT Delhi. The study highlights that Delhi’s winter atmosphere is climatologically unsuitable for consistent cloud seeding due to insufficient moisture. According to the report, even if successful, cloud seeding can only provide a temporary respite of 1 to 3 days and should not be considered a primary strategy for managing Delhi’s pollution.
The findings come after two cloud seeding trials on October 28 yielded limited results, and further trials were postponed due to low moisture content in the clouds. The IIT Delhi study, which analyzed climatological data from 2011-2021, concludes that the necessary atmospheric conditions for effective cloud seeding are rare in Delhi’s winter. When these conditions do occur, they often coincide with natural rainfall, reducing the potential benefit of artificial rain.
The report further emphasizes that the impact of induced rainfall is short-lived, with pollution levels likely to rebound within a few days. Considering the high operational costs, scientific uncertainties, and the lack of impact on underlying emission sources, cloud seeding is deemed an inefficient measure for pollution management. The study suggests that the focus should remain on sustained emission reduction, which is identified as the most viable and durable solution to Delhi’s chronic air pollution crisis.
While acknowledging cloud seeding as a potential “high-cost, tactical intervention” for declared air-quality emergencies, the report strongly advises against relying on it as a primary or strategic solution for Delhi’s winter air pollution. It should, at best, be considered a short-term emergency measure, contingent on precise forecasting criteria.
The Delhi government had initially planned around 10 cloud seeding trials in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, with an allocation of ₹3.21 crore approved for the initial five trials.