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The national capital may witness its first-ever artificial rain by November if it receives required permissions, as the winter, like every year, is expected to bring along the most-polluted months.
The Delhi government said on Wednesday that it has obtained clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct cloud seeding trials from October 1 to November 30.
The method mainly involves adding silver iodide to clouds, helping drive precipitation. It has been a long-touted short-term solution to get rid of smog. However, the effectiveness of the method has long been debated by experts, and is now being explored by the present BJP government after being previously discussed by the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Delhi.
The latest clearance was obtained on September 23. “I have directed that the aircraft remain on standby. As soon as weather and scientific parameters are favourable, we will conduct cloud seeding trials in Delhi — the first time in India — to provide immediate relief from pollution,” Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa was quoted as saying in an official statement by his office on Wednesday.
As per the conditions set by the DGCA, pilots have to have professional licence, and be experienced in similar flight operations.
The statement also listed some of these conditions, as it said, “Operations will be conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) with prior ATC clearances and coordination with AAI/Airport authorities for NOTAMs where required.”
“Flights will avoid restricted/prohibited areas. Aerial photography is not permitted. Foreign crew will not be involved,” it added.
Speaking about the trials, Sirsa said, “As per scientific and weather suitability, trials will be taken up in October and November, subject to real-time conditions and inter-agency coordination.” He added that this move is in line with Delhi’s 24×7, year-round clean air strategy to protect public health, particularly by providing relief during peak winter pollution.
The Delhi government had in July received the final nod from the DGCA.
Cloud seeding trials were earlier planned between August 30 and September 10, but were postponed, citing monsoon cloud patterns as predicted by the the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
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