Delhi is on the verge of experiencing its first artificial rainfall via cloud seeding, a significant technological advancement in the capital’s ongoing battle against air pollution. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that all necessary arrangements for this ambitious initiative have been completed. A successful trial run of the cloud seeding project was conducted earlier in the day in the Burari area.
Gupta shared the exciting news on social media, stating, “For the first time in Delhi, preparations have been completed to induce artificial rain through cloud seeding, marking a significant technological milestone in the capital’s fight against air pollution. Experts on Thursday successfully conducted a trial test in the Burari area.” She further elaborated that according to the weather department, cloudy conditions are anticipated on October 28, 29, and 30. If the weather conditions remain favorable, Delhi could witness its first artificial rain on October 29.
This initiative is not just technologically groundbreaking but also represents a scientific approach to tackling Delhi’s pollution crisis. The government’s objective is to improve the air quality and restore environmental balance in the capital through this innovation.
What is the Initiative?
Delhi’s Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Gupta and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their support. He detailed that a trial seeding flight was successfully executed, flying from IIT Kanpur to the Delhi region, covering areas like Meerut, Khekra, Burari, Sadakpur, and Aligarh, before returning to Kanpur. During this flight, cloud seeding flares were deployed between Khekra and Burari, as well as over the Badli area, using pyrotechnic techniques.
Sirsa added that the flight served as a crucial mission to evaluate the cloud-seeding system’s capabilities, assess aircraft endurance, and ensure seamless coordination among all involved agencies.
The cloud-seeding project, a collaborative effort between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, and the Delhi government, aims to determine the viability of artificial rainfall as a method to reduce high levels of particulate pollution in the national capital. The project was initially planned for July 4 but was postponed.
Who is conducting it?
In September, the Delhi government formalized its partnership with IIT-Kanpur by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for five cloud-seeding trials, which are planned for northwest Delhi. This project has received approval from 23 departments, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and seeks to establish artificial rain as a practical solution for Delhi’s worsening winter pollution.
IIT-Kanpur will be providing its own aircraft for the operations, and has received the necessary funding.
When is it scheduled?
The cloud-seeding operations are authorized to take place between October 1 and November 30, adhering to strict safety, security, and air traffic management protocols. Permission has been granted under rule 26(2) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, allowing IIT-Kanpur’s Department of Aerospace Engineering to conduct these activities using a Cessna 206-H aircraft (VT-IIT).
The project is being executed in close coordination with experts from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).