Delhi’s bold plan: cloud seeding to fight air pollution

Delhi’s Cloud Seeding Mission to Combat Air Pollution (2025)

• Overview: Delhi is preparing for India’s first cloud seeding experiment to tackle severe air pollution. The plan involves artificial rain to wash out harmful pollutants, particularly PM2.5 and PM10. The trial, originally scheduled from July 4–11, 2025, was postponed due to inadequate monsoon clouds.
• Technology & Mechanism: Under a ₹3.21 crore project, the Delhi Environment Department, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, will use a modified Cessna 206-H aircraft to release a mixture of silver iodide, iodised salt, and rock salt into nimbostratus clouds at altitudes of 500–6,000 metres. This triggers raindrop formation, which helps remove pollutants from the air. Each flight is expected to cover ~100 square kilometres over 90 minutes.
• Target Areas: The mission will focus on Delhi’s most polluted zones, including Rohini, Bawana, Alipur, Burari, and parts of western UP such as Loni and Baghpat. All flights comply with aviation safety norms, avoid VIP zones, and have approvals from the India Meteorological Department and DGCA. Five flights are planned with post-flight pollution monitoring.
• Context in Delhi’s Environment Action Plan (2025–26): The trial forms part of broader pollution control measures, including AI-based pollution enforcement, anti-smog guns, real-time dust monitoring, and cleaner public transport.
• Global Experience:
  • USA: Cloud seeding practiced in Colorado and Nevada for decades to boost precipitation; studies report 5–15% increase in rainfall.
  • China: Used to manage droughts and clear skies for events like the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Effectiveness is debated internationally.
  • UAE: Conducts 200+ missions annually, reporting 22–30% rainfall increase, though record floods in 2024 raised questions.
  • Russia: Applied mainly for short-term ceremonial purposes, such as parades, with consistent but limited effectiveness.
• Reason for Delay: Despite active monsoon conditions, the current clouds lack sufficient moisture content for seeding. The new tentative window is August 30 to September 10, 2025, dependent on weather conditions.
  
  Updated - July 06, 2025 09:16 pm  | The Hindu