Delhi plans cloud-seeding trial in July, awaiting final clearance from DGCA

Time of India

a day ago

NEW DELHI:
Delhi govt is likely to conduct a cloud seeding pilot project between July 4 and 11, when weather is expected to be feasible for causing artificial rain, city environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.
He added that govt had received a report from IMD, which has been shared with DGCA along with a flight map for getting permission for the project.
The govt has chalked out a tentative flight plan for the experiment, which includes Bawana, Rohini, Alipur, Kundli and Burari. The minister said IMD's reports and the flight map were approved in coordination with IIT Kanpur.
The Delhi cabinet had on May 7 okayed a proposal to conduct five cloud-seeding trials, with a project outlay of Rs 3.21 crore.
The trials were to be carried out in May-end and early June in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.
"The met department told us that till July 3 conditions are not feasible for cloud seeding; however, the July 4-11 window is favourable. DGCA has sought a backup time window in case cloud-seeding turns unfeasible during July 4-11 due to weather changes," Sirsa said.
"We believe that by Monday we'll see progress in getting approvals from DGCA," the minister said.
IIT-Kanpur to conduct trials for artificial rain
Cloud seeding is a weather-modification technique that introduces chemicals into the air to aggregate and condense moisture particles into rain. In this technique, compounds such as silver iodide (AgI) are released into the atmosphere to aid the formation of ice crystals that lead to rain.
Soon after the formation of the BJP-led govt in Delhi, Sirsa announced that they would seek no-objection certificates from agencies concerned for conducting artificial rain in the winter season, when the capital records high pollution levels.
Later, on June 18, the minister said govt had received all clearances barring that from the DGCA. For cloud seeding, clearances are needed from the Special Protection Group (SPG), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Union ministries of environment, defence and home, UP govt, IMD as well as DGCA, Airport Authority of India and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
Trials for artificial rain will be executed by IIT Kanpur, which had earlier conducted the experiment using its own modified aircraft equipped with a mist sprinkler aiming to cover a minimum of 100sq km per sortie.
The minister had earlier said IIT Kanpur's aircraft has the necessary permit from DGCA and can remain in the air for around five hours. Scientists from IIT Kanpur expect the sortie to take at least one hour and 30 minutes.
The minister had also stated that after the trial, water samples will be collected to conduct a study to ensure see if there are harmful chemicals in it.
He added that as per global studies and an earlier trial run by IIT Kanpur, the success rate is around 60-70%.
As per IIT Kanpur, nimbostratus clouds are the most suitable type for seeding experiments. These are usually at heights of 500-6,000 meters above ground level.
The previous AAP govt had repeatedly proposed conducting artificial rain during winters but shelved it citing unfavourable meteorological conditions. During the winter of 2024, the AAP govt had floated the plan again but later alleged that it was not getting enough support or backing from the Centre.