Cloud Seeding In Delhi: Artificial Rain Trials To Tackle Air Pollution To Be Held In September

Delhi Cloud Seeding Project: In a bid to tackle air pollution levels, Delhi will conduct its first cloud seeding trial which includes triggering artificial rain, in the first two weeks of September, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa informed on Friday. The cloud seeding trials will coincide with the retreating monsoon.

Cloud seeding trials were earlier planned for July but were postponed on the suggestion of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), IIT-Kanpur, and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.

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Delhi Cloud Seeding Project Details

The Delhi government has approved Rs 3.21 crore for the project. Delhi Cloud Seeding Project is being led by the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT-Kanpur.

The operation clearance for the cloud seeding project has been granted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

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The cloud seeding sorties will be carried out using a VT-IIT (Cessna 206-H) aircraft, manned by experts from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Kanpur. The aircraft will fly over pollution-prone areas including Alipur, Bawana, Rohini, Burari, Pavi Sadakpur, the Kundli border and stretches along the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.

The minister stated that no aerial photography will be conducted during the cloud seeding aviation safety norms will be strictly followed.

The plane is equipped with specialised instruments to release hygroscopic particles like sodium chloride into the clouds, promoting artificial rainfall. The idea is to trigger rain that can help wash out pollutants from the lower atmosphere, improving air quality.