Delhi gears up for first artificial rain trial to tackle pollution
The Delhi Government is all set to roll out its first pilot project for artificial rain through cloud seeding. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Wednesday that all scientific, technical and regulatory preparations have been completed. The cloud seeding flights will take off as soon as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirms suitable cloud conditions.
The Rs 3.21 crore pilot project — titled “Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi-NCR Pollution Mitigation” — will be executed by IIT, Kanpur, in collaboration with the Delhi Government’s Department of Environment. The project will deploy specially equipped Cessna aircraft with advanced flare-based systems that release a unique seeding mixture into the clouds to induce rainfall.
“We are not just fighting pollution — we are building a blueprint for the future. This is a national-first experiment rooted in science, executed with military-grade precision and evaluated in real time,” said Sirsa. “From anti-smog guns and road sprinkling to now artificial rain — we are literally pushing the skies to deliver clean air for our people,” he added.
The IMD has already given its formal nod to the pilot, confirming the meteorological viability of cloud seeding over the National Capital Region. The cloud seeding sorties — up to five in total — will be conducted over low-security zones in northwest and outer Delhi. Each flight will last approximately 90 minutes and cover up to 100 sq km.
The cloud seeding mixture — developed by IIT, Kanpur — is a scientifically formulated combination of silver iodide nanoparticles, iodised salt and rock salt, designed to trigger precipitation in clouds with at least 50 per cent moisture content. The targeted cloud type, nimbostratus, usually hovers between 500 and 6,000 m above ground level and offers the most promising conditions for successful rain induction.
The impact of each cloud seeding sortie on air quality will be assessed in real time. Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) placed across the seeding zones will measure changes in PM2.5 and PM10 levels to evaluate the effectiveness of the artificial rainfall in reducing airborne pollutants.
Sirsa also noted that the initiative builds on IIT Kanpur’s earlier success in conducting seven cloud seeding trials in drought-prone regions of the country.
While major permissions have been secured, only minor flight plan approvals remain, and officials said these are expected to be completed shortly. Once the right cloud formations appear, the pilot project will be launched without delay.
Fully funded by the Delhi Government’s Department of Environment, the artificial rain project marks a bold step in the Capital’s ongoing efforts to secure its residents’ ‘Right to Clean Air’.
Delhi