NEW DELHI: In a innovative step to tackle Delhi’s choking air pollution, the national capital is set to witness artificial rain for the first time. The cloud seeding operation, aimed at clearing the toxic air, was announced by environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa. If weather conditions permit, the rain-making experiment will take place between July 4 and 11, marking a significant shift in how the city addresses its environmental crisis.Sirsa said that IIT Kanpur has submitted the flight plan for the operation to IMD Pune for technical coordination. “Conditions are not suitable for cloud seeding until July 3, but a flight window has been proposed between July 4 and 11,” Sirsa said.Additionally, a proposal has been sent to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), seeking an alternative time window in case of unfavorable weather during the proposed dates, ensuring the trial can still take place at a later stage.“This initiative marks a historic step in urban pollution control and is being carried out for the first time by the Environment Department under chief minister Rekha Gupta’s leadership,” Sirsa said.“Our aim is to give Delhiites clean air,” he emphasised, asserting that it’s the most basic right of every resident, and the government is exploring every possible solution to achieve it.“That’s why we’re taking this bold step of artificial rain. We are hopeful it will bring meaningful change,” he added.What is cloud seeding and How is IIT-Kanpur involved in this project?Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique used to stimulate artificial rainfall. It works by dispersing specific chemicals into moisture-laden clouds, encouraging the formation of water droplets heavy enough to fall as rain.Commonly used agents include silver iodide (AgI), iodised salt, and rock salt, which help accelerate droplet formation by acting as condensation nuclei.The project, titled “Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation,” is being spearheaded by IIT Kanpur. Here’s how the institute is contributing:Formulation development: IIT Kanpur developed a special seeding formulation using silver iodide nanoparticles, iodised salt, and rock salt designed to catalyse rainfall in clouds rich with moisture.Aircraft operations: The experiment will use modified Cessna aircraft equipped with flare-based systems to disperse the seeding mixture. Each aircraft sortie will last approximately 90 minutes, covering 100 sq km of airspace, particularly over northwest and outer Delhi.Execution of trials: IIT Kanpur scientists will carry out at least five sorties in low-security air zones. They had previously tested this technique using a mist-sprinkler system aboard their own aircraft.Ideal cloud type: The most suitable cloud type for seeding is the nimbostratus, which typically forms between 500 to 6,000 meters above ground. These clouds offer ideal conditions for artificial rain.Success rate: Based on global studies and IIT Kanpur’s past trials, the expected success rate of inducing rain via cloud seeding is around 60–70%.The project aims to reduce pollution levels in Delhi by increasing rainfall during a window of favourable weather between July 4 and 11, 2025.
