Delhi is preparing for its inaugural artificial rain to combat air pollution through cloud seeding set from July 4-11, pending weather. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa labeled it a significant urban pollution control measure. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s leadership will oversee the project, striving to deliver clean air to all Delhi residents.
In the project titled “Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding,” five aircraft will conduct sorties over low-security air zones in northwest and outer Delhi. Each 90-minute sortie will cover around 100 square kilometers using a seeding mixture developed by IIT Kanpur containing silver iodide nanoparticles, iodised salt, and rock salt to induce artificial rain in moisture-laden clouds.
IIT Kanpur submitted the flight plan for cloud seeding to IMD, Pune. Cloud seeding is not possible until July 3, but a flight window is proposed from July 4 to 11. A backup window has been suggested to DGCA in case of bad weather during the planned period.
Sirsa clarified that despite accusations from the Aam Aadmi Party, claiming obstruction by the BJP and the Centre in pollution control efforts and mocking the proposal for artificial rain in winter, his government was proactive. They signed an MoU with IIT Kanpur and applied for necessary approvals.
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