Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Thursday the government is likely to conduct a trial for artificial rain in May as part of its efforts to tackle air pollution. The Environment Minister held a review meeting with officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the Ministry of Defence, the Institute of Tropical Meteorology under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Ministry of Environment, MHA, IIT Kanpur, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Airport Authority of India, and other stakeholders reviewed the potential of artificial rain through cloud seeding.
After the meeting, Sirsa said that the trial will be carried out in an area in outer Delhi, with the final site selection to be made by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and IIT Kanpur. The minister said the plan is part of a broader strategy to tackle pollution using multiple methods. “This is a war against pollution and we are working on various measures, with artificial rain being one of them. Before implementing it on a large scale, we will try to conduct a trial in May when summer is at its peak,” he added. He further said, “We have asked for detailed reports to determine whether the chemicals used in cloud seeding could have any harmful effects on human health or the environment.” Based on the findings, we will conduct a small-scale test and analyse water samples. If the trial is successful, we will expand the project across Delhi during periods of severe pollution, the environment minister said.
The Team of IIT Kanpur, during the meeting, apprised the minister that Cloud seeding is a scientific technique that enhances precipitation by dispersing specific chemical substances into clouds. These substances act as cloud condensation nuclei, encouraging water droplets to form and grow until they become heavy enough to fall as rain. Aircraft or ground-based generators are typically used for dispersing these substances into the atmosphere.
The officials informed the minister that this process generally covers hundreds of kilometres in area and that it has been successfully implemented in various parts of the world to tackle drought conditions and mitigate air pollution by bringing down the suspended pollutants.
IIT Kanpur has previously demonstrated success in cloud seeding, with six out of seven experiments showing positive results in inducing rainfall under suitable atmospheric conditions.
The meeting also included discussions on the necessary compliance measures and permissions required to carry out this initiative. Officials deliberated on regulatory approvals, flight clearances, and inter-departmental coordination to ensure a smooth execution of the project.
Additionally, in another meeting with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), officials apprised the Minister of the online portal designed to ensure compliance with a 14-point action plan for curbing dust pollution from construction activities. Key directives included the mandatory use of anti-smog guns, tarpaulin or green nets on building sites, regular cleaning of vehicles transporting construction materials, and proper storage and disposal of debris to prevent it from accumulating on roads and public land.
To enhance enforcement, the Minister stressed the importance of self-audits and self-assessments by project sites, the installation of video fencing with PTZ cameras, and the deployment of sensors to detect PM2.5 levels. He further directed that artificial intelligence (AI) be utilised to ensure strict compliance. Additionally, all construction sites exceeding 500 square yards must prominently display their DPCC clearance status.
