Delhi Prepares for First Artificial Rain to Tackle Pollution
Delhi is set to launch its first artificial rain project to tackle worsening air pollution. Approved by the India Meteorological Department, the cloud seeding pilot aims to reduce harmful particulate matter through targeted precipitation. The initiative marks a significant step in urban air quality management, with authorities hoping to ease pollution by inducing rain over select high-risk areas.
The initiative, officially titled “Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation”, is being spearheaded by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. It marks the first time in India that cloud seeding will be tested not for rainfall enhancement in drought-hit areas but as a tool to clean polluted urban air.
The ₹3.21 crore project, funded by the Delhi government’s Department of Environment, involves five aircraft-based sorties over low-security zones in northwest and outer Delhi. Each sortie, lasting about 90 minutes, will cover approximately 100 square kilometres. The cloud-seeding material, developed by IIT Kanpur, includes a custom blend of silver iodide, iodised salt, and rock salt nanoparticles, and will be dispersed via flare systems mounted on modified Cessna aircraft.
The India Meteorological Department will provide real-time data—cloud type, altitude, wind direction, and dew point—to ensure precise cloud seeding operations. Targeting Nimbostratus clouds between 500 and 6,000 metres with at least 50% humidity, the operation will be closely monitored. Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations will track fluctuations in PM2.5 and PM10 levels before and after sorties to assess the experiment’s scientific impact.
Environment Minister Sirsa noted the project aims to explore if artificial rain can reduce air pollution. Though cloud seeding has aided drought-stricken areas globally, its use for urban air quality is relatively untested. IIT Kanpur’s past success in rural zones provides hope. Environmentalists caution that favourable weather is crucial, yet experts view the effort as an innovative and necessary push toward cleaner urban air.
While outcomes depend on real-time weather and sustained rainfall, success could set a precedent for other cities. By integrating science, innovation, and policy, Delhi is expanding the toolkit for urban air quality management—signalling a shift in how cities may approach environmental resilience in the face of worsening climate and pollution challenges.
