Delhi government signs MoU with IIT Kanpur for cloud seeding trials to combat air pollution. Trials to begin in October, despite environmental concerns.
The Delhi government has partnered with IIT Kanpur to conduct cloud seeding trials, aiming to tackle severe air pollution and improve public health (Photo: Pinterest)
New Delhi: The Delhi government, earlier this week, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur to initiate cloud seeding trials as an emergency measure to tackle the alarming levels of air pollution. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, was present during the MoU signing ceremony.
According to a senior government official, the procedure will involve aircraft flying beneath cloud layers and dispersing silver iodide. This compound interacts with the existing water droplets in clouds, making them heavier so they condense and eventually fall as rain. The first phase of this experiment has been scheduled between October 7 and 11 across north and north-west Delhi. The operations will employ IIT Kanpur's Cessna 206H aircraft, stationed at the Hindon airbase, at an estimated expense of 3.5 crore. The outcomes of this trial will guide the government in deciding subsequent steps.
Initially, the exercise was planned for late May or early June but was delayed due to pending clearances. The Delhi government had been awaiting the required No Objection Certificates (NOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other regulatory authorities. However earlier this week, the government confirmed that it had finally secured clearance from the DGCA to conduct cloud seeding trials between October 1 and November 30. In fact, as early as July, the DGCA had already granted its final approval. Earlier, the trials were scheduled between August 30 and September 10, but these were again postponed based on weather projections by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), which forecasted unsuitable monsoon cloud patterns.
The latest clearance was granted on September 23. The DGCA has imposed certain conditions, including that only pilots holding a professional license and with prior experience in such operations will be allowed to fly. All missions must follow Visual Flight Rules (VFR), obtain prior Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance, and ensure coordination with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and airport authorities for issuing NOTAMs when necessary. Furthermore, flights must avoid restricted or prohibited zones, aerial photography is strictly banned, and foreign crew members will not be permitted.
The Environment Minister stated that within the October 7-11 window, five trial runs are proposed, contingent on favorable weather. "The aircraft is fully equipped, manned by trained pilots, and every sortie will undergo a proper evaluation before progressing to the next stage," the Minister said. He added that permissions were obtained from 13 different government bodies, including Aviation, Defence, Home, Environment, local district administrations, and meteorological departments. He further stressed that such inter-agency coordination aligns with Delhi's continuous clean air strategy, a 24x7 plan aimed at safeguarding public health, especially during the high-pollution winter months.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta told reporters that the administration is adopting every possible intervention to curb pollution. "From mechanical road sweeping and the deployment of anti-smog guns and mist sprayers, to strict dust suppression efforts, multiple initiatives have been taken. Now, cloud seeding is being introduced to deliver additional relief during peak winter pollution. These will be the first ever artificial rainfall trials in Delhi—a historic milestone for the city," she said.
On the other hand, experts have voiced skepticism regarding the plan. Environmentalist Jaidhar Gupta told The Sunday Guardian that rather than implementing concrete policy measures to reduce emissions at the source, the Delhi government is once again opting for an approach that could worsen environmental and health risks. "Silver iodide will seep into our air, water, and food systems, increasing toxicity and threatening well-being. This move is even worse than the installation of smog towers," he said.
Gupta described artificial rain as both a costly and temporary measure. "This is, without doubt, a misuse of taxpayer money. Unless policies are enacted to directly curb emissions at the source, these kinds of measures amount to nothing more than a smogwash. Even if rainfall occurs, pollution levels are bound to resurge quickly in winter," he explained. The funds allocated to these trials should instead be directed towards concrete, ground-level emission control efforts across various sectors," he explained.
Notably, cloud seeding primarily relies on introducing silver iodide into cloud formations to induce precipitation. It has long been touted as a short-term way to address smog, yet its effectiveness continues to be debated within the scientific community. The present BJP-led government is exploring the technique, which had previously been floated by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.
Environment Minister Sirsa criticized the earlier AAP-led government, remarking that merely sending letters was insufficient. He credited the BJP government for securing the necessary approvals. Discussions around artificial rainfall in Delhi date back several years. The former AAP government had initiated talks with IIT Kanpur, but the plan failed to materialize. Then Environment Minister Gopal Rai accused the Centre of ignoring repeated appeals for approvals. After the BJP assumed power in February this year, the proposal was revived. Although initially planned for July and later for September, the trials were postponed on both occasions.
