THE Delhi Government, in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur, conducted cloud-seeding trials in parts of Delhi on Tuesday, with more such exercises planned over the next few days, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said. Environmentalists, however, termed the Delhi Government’s cloud-seeding trial a short-term measure, saying it may temporarily reduce pollution but fails to address the root causes of the capital’s deteriorating air quality. According to officials, the aircraft took off from Kanpur forDelhi and covered areas likeBurari, north Karol Bagh andMayur Vihar before landing at theMeerut Airfield. “The Cessna aircraft took off from Kanpur.

 

It released eightfire flares each weighing 2 to 2.5kilograms and the trial lasted forhalf an hour. Each flare lasted fortwo to two-and-a-half minutes. The clouds had a humidity of 15to 20 per cent. The flares werereleased for 17 to 18 minutes,”Sirsa said in a video statement He added that IIT-Kanpur hasopined thatraincouldhappen within 15 minutes to 4 hours after the trial. “However, the rainfall won’t be heavy since the humidity levels were only at 15 to 20 per cent,” the Minister said. Meanwhile, the second trial was alsoconductedlaterin the day in outer Delhi. Nine to 10 such trials are plannedover thenext fewdays, Sirsa said, adding that since IMD has informed that the winddirectionis towardsnorth, areas falling under that region are being targeted.

 

“This is a huge step taken by the Government to mitigate pollution. If trials are successful,wewillprepare along-term plan tillFebruary.Wehope that if this is successful, it will be a firstsuchscientificstepin India to reduce polluton,” he added. According to sources, IIT Kanpur successfully executed the operation over Delhi, in a corridormeasuringroughly 25 nautical miles in length and 4 nautical miles in width with the largest distance covered betweenKhekraandlittlenorth of Burari. The first round involved six flares released at an altitude of nearly 4,000 feet abovegroundlevel,withaburn duration of eighteen-and-ahalf minutes.

 

A second flight took off at 3:55 pm, deploying eight flares at a higher altitude of around 5,000-6,000 feet. Following the second trial, Sirsa, in a post on X, said the Cessna aircraft took off from Meerut Airport for Delhi and releasedcloudseeding flaresin different areas. The team from IIT-Kanpur has expressed hope for good results from these systematically conducted experiments, he said. “Based on the success of these trials, cloud-seeding will beused extensivelyinDelhi for pollution control under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta,” he added. The trial, aimed at inducing artificial rain to tackle air pollution in the capital, is part of theDelhi government’sbroader strategy to mitigate deteriorating air quality during the winter months.