Delhi Plans Artificial Rain to Fight Air Pollution Using Cloud Seeding

India’s capital, New Delhi, is preparing to create artificial rain to help clean its polluted air. The Delhi government has announced that it will use cloud seeding technology to produce rainfall and reduce air pollution.

According to Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, artificial rain is planned between July 4 and July 11 by forming rain clouds using scientific methods.

Why Artificial Rain?

Delhi’s air quality becomes very poor during both summer and winter, especially between October and November. During this period, smoke from crop burning, vehicle emissions, and factory pollution heavily pollute the air. Rain — either natural or artificial — can help settle dust and clean the air.

The government believes artificial rain can improve the air quality, even if just a little.

How Does Artificial Rain Work?

The process involves a technology called cloud seeding. First, experts check if there are enough clouds with moisture in the sky. If not, chemicals like silver iodide, iodized salt, or rock salt are released into the clouds using airplanes.

These particles help water droplets in the clouds grow bigger and heavier, eventually falling as rain.

This method has been developed by a team from IIT Kanpur, considering Delhi’s pollution levels.

Delhi’s Plan

• Five special aircraft will be used.
• Each plane will fly for 90 minutes and cover an area of around 100 square kilometers.
• The chemicals will be released using a flare-based system.
• The Delhi government has allocated ₹3.21 crore for the project.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also been informed and is coordinating the flights.

Political Debate Over the Plan

The announcement has sparked political debate in Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj questioned the need for artificial rain when the monsoon is already approaching. He asked whether the plan is truly for public benefit or just for gaining attention.

Last year, AAP accused the central government of ignoring their request for cloud seeding. Then-Environment Minister Gopal Rai had reportedly asked several times for permission to conduct artificial rain.

In response, Minister Sirsa said others only talked about cloud seeding, but he is actually making it happen. He said all agreements have been signed, payments made, and approvals obtained, and that the plan has reached the testing phase after four months of work.

He credited Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for pushing the project forward and called it Delhi’s first practical step toward fighting urban pollution.

Experts say cloud seeding could be useful in large polluted cities like Delhi. However, its success still depends on weather conditions and the presence of enough moisture in the clouds.

If successful, Delhi’s artificial rain project could become a model for other cities across India.