Delhi To Receive Its First-Ever Artificial Rain Through Cloud Seeding In July
New Delhi: Spearheaded by IIT Kanpur, India’s capital city, Delhi is all set to receive its first-ever artificial rain through cloudseeding between July 4 and 11. The project, led by the Environment Department under chief minister Rekha Gupta, aims to combat contamination, thus attempting to reduce the urban air pollution level in the city.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced the project on Saturday, making it a historic step for the country using the cloud seeding method. The method entails rainfall by dispersing special substances into the air. The process is scheduled to take place between July 4 and July 11.
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Announcing the project, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed that weather conditions will be suitable for cloud seeding after July 3. He noted that the plan has been sent to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for final permission.
The minister stated that the government’s goal was to provide clear air for the people of Delhi. “That’s why we’re taking this bold step. We hope this experiment brings real improvement in the city’s air quality,” the minister added.
Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj had accused the BJP state government and the Center for the previous regimes’ efforts delaying the artificial rain project in the past.
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What is Cloud Seeding or Artificial Rain Project?
Artificial rain or cloud seeding is a weather modification method that increases precipitation (rain or snow) in the atmosphere from clouds by dispersing substances like silver iodide, potassium iodide or dry ice into clouds to push the formation of rain drops. These substances act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) or ice nuclei, and form water vapor to condense or freeze into larger droplets or ice crystals, leading to precipitation.
The process involves five aircraft sorties, each lasting 90 minutes and covering about 100 square kilometers over low-security airspaces in the region.
