In two weeks, Delhi govt plans to make it rain — artificially — to curb pollution levels

“We had earlier met them on September 12, where IIT-Kanpur gave its presentation on cloud seeding and artificial rain to reduce pollution levels. They have already conducted a few pilot projects but they were during the monsoon months of June and July. We then asked them for a detailed presentation on the possibility of artificial rain in Delhi during winter,” he said.

“There is a minimum requirement of 40% cloud and moisture to conduct artificial rain through cloud seeding. IIT-Kanpur has informed the weather department that there is a possibility of favourable conditions on November 20 and 21… After a thorough study, we will present the proposal to the Supreme Court,” he added.

According to sources, it has been proposed that a pilot project will be conducted over a 300-sq km area. The cost is likely to be around Rs 3 crore.

“This requires approvals from around a dozen agencies — both state and central. Their proposal and the list of agencies will be presented to the Supreme Court on Friday,” an official said.

While the Delhi government has looked into the possibility of cloud seeding several times, especially after it was reported that such attempts in China have been successful, discussions have never fructified.

Manindra Agrawal at IIT-Kanpur, who is the project in-charge, meanwhile, told The Indian Express that silver iodide along with other components, would be used for cloud-seeding and this would be done through an aircraft. “We need clouds, and current projections show a likelihood of clouds towards November 20, but this may change and we cannot predict precisely at this point,” he said.

On how much relief it may provide from pollution levels, he said, “It depends on how much moisture there is, how much rain happens. We can’t predict these factors right now, so it would be hard to say.”