Delhi’s much-anticipated artificial rain experiment failed to produce measurable rainfall, triggering debate over the scientific, financial and environmental prudence of such interventions. Conducted jointly by the state’s Environment Department and a premier technology institute, the operation was the capital’s first attempt at cloud seeding in over five decades aimed at cleansing its toxic air.
Despite aircraft dispersing silver iodide and sodium chloride over northern parts of Delhi including Burari, Mayur Vihar and Karol Bagh, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that no significant rainfall occurred. Only trace precipitation 0.1 mm in Noida and 0.2 mm in Greater Noida was recorded. Officials maintained that the effort was a “scientific step” toward developing long-term pollution mitigation strategies, but the outcome left experts unconvinced.
According to IMD scientists, atmospheric conditions were far from ideal. Humidity levels hovered between 15 and 20 per cent, well below the 50 per cent threshold needed for effective seeding. “Cloud seeding can only enhance existing clouds; it cannot generate rain in clear skies,” said a senior meteorologist. “Delhi’s post-monsoon atmosphere is simply too dry to yield meaningful results.”
The exercise involved Cessna aircraft releasing chemical flares at altitudes of 4,000 to 6,000 feet. Each round, costing about ₹55 lakh, was part of a broader ₹3.21 crore pilot project that officials said could be expanded if successful. Preliminary data suggested a marginal, short-lived drop in PM2.5 and PM10 levels but experts noted that such reductions were within natural fluctuations and not statistically significant.
Environmental researchers have raised concerns about the long-term implications of using silver iodide. Classified as a hazardous substance by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the compound can accumulate in soil and water, posing risks to aquatic life and biodiversity. Urban planners warn that frequent use could worsen Delhi’s ecological stress, especially given its already high chemical and particulate load.Critics argue that cloud seeding offers only cosmetic relief from pollution and diverts attention from structural reforms. “Artificial rain may clear the air for a few hours, but emissions from vehicles, industries and construction sites will quickly offset any gains,” said an environmental policy expert. Many see the initiative as a costly experiment rather than a sustainable solution.
While the government has defended the trials as an essential scientific experiment, civic leaders and environmentalists insist that Delhi’s focus must return to emission control, renewable energy transition and urban green planning. With air quality index levels again breaching 350, experts warn that looking skyward for answers may only delay addressing the pollution rooted on the ground.
