Government gets DGCA nod for first-ever cloud seeding trials
The Delhi Government has received the final go-ahead from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct the Capital’s first-ever cloud seeding trials. This initiative marks the first time any Indian state has secured aviation clearance specifically for pollution-mitigation-based cloud seeding operations.
The trials are scheduled to take place between August 30 and September 10, a revised timeline suggested by meteorological experts due to the early onset of monsoon. Originally, the window approved by the DGCA was between July 4 and July 11. However, in consultation with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, IIT-Kanpur recommended the new dates to ensure optimal cloud conditions.
While announcing the development, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said: “Cloud seeding has been discussed for years but never acted upon. We coordinated with 13 departments, secured all approvals and now Delhi will witness this historic experiment.”
The targeted areas for the cloud seeding sorties include Alipur, Bawana, Rohini, Burari, Pavi Sadakpur, Kundli border and parts of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway — zones identified for their pollution retention levels and cloud formation potential. The operation will be carried out by a trained crew from IIT-Kanpur’s Department of Aerospace Engineering using aircraft VT-IIT, a Cessna 206-H fitted with specialised cloud seeding equipment.
The process involves dispersing hygroscopic particles such as sodium chloride from below cloud layers to stimulate precipitation and promote the washout of pollutants from the atmosphere. The goal is not just immediate rainfall but long-term data to plan smog mitigation strategies for winter months.
According to the the DGCA’s permission letter, the trials must comply with stringent safety and airspace regulations. The flights will operate under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), aerial videography or photography is prohibited and the aircraft must avoid restricted or sensitive zones unless separate permissions are secured. Coordination with Air Traffic Control and adherence to all flight operation protocols is mandatory.
“This mission will not only provide real-time data but also help calibrate and scale up efforts during October to December, when AQI in Delhi worsens,” Sirsa said. He said the data would be shared with pollution boards, scientific institutions and courts for possible future replication.
The minister also used the occasion to criticise previous administrations for inaction. “While they kept cloud seeding on paper for 10 years, we held multiple meetings and completed the process in just four months. The aircraft is ready, the crew is trained and the plan is in motion.”
Positioning this effort as part of the broader Environment Action Plan – 2025, the minister said the project reflects the Delhi Government’s commitment to science-backed, data-driven governance under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Viksit Delhi.”
Delhi