• Source:JND
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Artificial Rains In Delhi:  To tackle the hazardous air quality level in Delhi, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government has decided to settle the dust with a spell of artificial rains. To provide much-needed relief from toxic air quality in the national capital, the Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Kanpur has stepped up to create artificial showers with cloud seeding. The artificial rains in the national capital will be attempted around November 20- 21 to combat air pollution which breached the severe category.

On the whole project, IIT Kanpur professor Manindra Agrawal said, "IIT Kanpur has its own aircraft in which flares have been attached to do cloud seeding and it has been approved by DGCA. With this, we can do cloud seedings anywhere...We along with CII have been planning on cloud seeding to control pollution in Delhi NCR for the last two months. CII is active and coordinating with the Delhi government and the Central government.."

He said, "Rain through cloud seeding makes the dust particles settle down and flow with water making the environment clean and pollution-free at that time. Until we take action on the pollution sources it will come again..."

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday informed that the Aam Admi government has planned to induce artificial rain through cloud seeding. He held a meeting with scientists from IIT-Kanpur to discuss the proposal on artificial rains.

Gopal Rai said," A meeting with the IIT Kanpur team was held regarding the possibility of cloud seeding, i.e., artificial rain, in the wake of the pollution situation. This proposal was first presented by IIT Kanpur in that meeting. It was decided that tomorrow they would send a detailed proposal to the government."

Environment Minister Rai said that if certain parameters related to cloud conditions are met on November 20-21, then a pilot project related to artificial rains can be executed.

"If we receive their proposal tomorrow, we will present it before the Supreme Court. They (IIT Kanpur) estimate that it can be cloudy on November 20-21 in Delhi. If there is 40 per cent cloud coverage, then artificial rains can be made possible. Keeping that in mind, we have asked them to send a proposal tomorrow and then we will present it before the Court," Rai said.

"If it is cloudy on November 20-21 and all permissions are obtained, the pilot can be executed that day," he added.

What Is Cloud Seeding?

Cloud seeding is the process of artificially generating rain by implanting clouds with particles such as silver iodide crystals. It uses planes to spray clouds with chemicals to condense smaller particles into larger rain droplets.

To Know More, Read: Artificial Rain To Tackle Delhi Air Pollution: What Is Cloud Seeding; IIT Kanpur's 'Quick Fix' Explained

The city has already shut all schools, stopped construction activities, and govt has imposed restrictions on vehicle use. In Delhi, the air quality deteriorates every year ahead of winter, when cold air traps pollutants from sources including vehicles, industries, construction dust, and agricultural waste burning.

On Thursday, the overall Air Quality Index was at 398, in the "very poor" category, according to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). In the national capital, the Anand Vihar station again entered into a severe category with PM 2.5 and PM 10 at 500 while the CO was at 125, under the 'moderate' category, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).