• Source:JND
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Artificial Rain in Delhi: The first artificial rain trial scheduled for Delhi has been postponed due to unfavourable weather conditions and is expected to be rescheduled once the weather improves and returns to normal.

The experiment was cancelled even as the aircraft fitted with cloud-seeding equipment for the experiment stands ready in Meerut, officials said.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, accompanied by environment department officials and a technical team from IIT Kanpur, conducted an inspection of the aircraft on Monday. The purpose of the visit was to verify that all necessary systems were in place for the upcoming trial.

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As per Sirsa, the trial can be conducted ‘any day’ as soon as IMD hints clear weather window. "As soon as we get the signal that there will be no rain, the trial will be carried out," he said.

"We want to carry out the experiment under dry and stable weather conditions to obtain accurate results," he said. He added, "Although rain was forecast earlier, we want to ensure that the experiment is conducted in a scientifically sound manner."

Delhi is gearing up for an artificial rain project in partnership with IIT Kanpur, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of cloud-seeding in mitigating pollution and smog during peak winter months.

23 departments, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), have cleared the artificial rain project to check whether artificial cloud-seeding can help to reduce pollution in peak winter months. Funds have already been transferred to IIT Kanpur, which will deploy its aircraft for the operation.

Earlier trials were postponed due to the active monsoon, as it would have made it difficult to understand the difference between the original rain and artificial rain.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur is conducting cloud-seeding trials in Delhi from October 1 to November 30. The project aims to assess the effectiveness of cloud computing.

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They will use a Cessna 206-H aircraft equipped with cloud-seeding equipment, working with experts from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The operation follows multiple postponements due to weather conditions.