Cloud-Seeding Plan Takes Off in Delhi with a Trial Flight
Delhi has launched its long-awaited cloud-seeding project in an effort to combat rising air pollution levels and improve air quality across the capital. The trial flight, conducted on Friday, marked the first step toward using artificial rain as a pollution-control measure.
The Delhi government, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, carried out the initial phase of the operation after favorable weather conditions were confirmed. During the flight, aircraft released silver iodide and other particles into the clouds to encourage rainfall formation — a technique widely used in other countries to increase precipitation.
Officials stated that if successful, large-scale cloud-seeding operations could be implemented during the peak pollution season in November and December, when smog levels typically soar due to stubble burning and weather stagnation.
Experts believe that cloud seeding could temporarily reduce air pollutants and improve visibility, offering some relief to residents suffering from poor air quality. However, they caution that it is not a permanent solution and must be combined with long-term emission control strategies.
The success of this Delhi cloud-seeding trial could set a precedent for similar weather-modification efforts across India.
