Delhi Government Greenlights Cloud-Seeding Experiment to Combat Air Quality Issues
New Delhi Takes A Step Forward Against Air Pollution with Cloud-Seeding Trials
Hey there! The Delhi government is giving air pollution a tough fight,, approving a scheme to conduct five cloud-seeding trials overseen by IIT-Kanpur.
With a total budget of Rs 3.21 crore, the ambitious plan includes five trials, each worth approximately Rs 55 lakh, plus a one-time cost of Rs 66 lakh for equipment and logistics. This project, spearheaded by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, is a key part of the government's strategy to enhance city air quality and tackle peak pollution periods.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa calls this an important stride in battling Delhi's water shortage and persistent air pollution crisis. He emphasizes that this initiative aligns with existing efforts, such as AI-based monitoring and 24/7 surveillance at pollution hotspots. During critical air pollution periods, cloud seeding could serve as a backup solution.
IIT-Kanpur will handle the planning, aircraft deployment, chemical dispersal, and overall management of the trials. The Delhi government will directly fund the project execution. The initial operation will cover an area of 100 square kilometers on Delhi's outskirts, followed by a thorough scientific evaluation to determine the effectiveness and environmental impact of the cloud-seeding process.
Cloud seeding, a method that involves dispersing substances into clouds to induce rainfall, has the potential to diminish airborne pollutants. However, its long-term impact on reducing air pollution remains uncertain, and it should not be considered a definitive solution. Instead, it's more appropriate to view it as a temporary measure during critical periods.
The Delhi government needs no-objection certificates from 13 departments, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, defense, home, and environment ministries, and the Airports Authority of India, for the trials to commence.
(Originally published under a different headline, though not modified by our editorial staff, courtesy of a syndicated feed.)
Fun fact: Cloud seeding dates back to the 1940s, with the first recorded instance in the U.S.by General Irving Krick and Vincent Schaefer. But remember, its effectiveness may vary, and it's best used as a short-term solution. Now, keep in mind that this is just one aspect of addressing pollution, andCombatting air pollution requires a holistic approach involving multiple strategies.
- IIT-Kanpur, overseen by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, is responsible for the planning, deployment, and management of the cloud-seeding trials, which aim to combat air pollution in Delhi as part of the government's strategy to improve city air quality.
- In an effort to diminish airborne pollutants, the cloud-seeding trials, backed by a budget of Rs 3.21 crore, will disperse substances into clouds, a method similar to the one pioneered by General Irving Krick and Vincent Schaefer in the 1940s.
- The initial operation will cover an area of 100 square kilometers on Delhi's outskirts, followed by a thorough scientific evaluation to determine the effectiveness and potential environmental impact of the cloud-seeding process.
- The Delhi government, alongside a suite of departments including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, defense, home, and environment ministries, and the Airports Authority of India, is seeking no-objection certificates to execute the cloud-seeding trials, recognizing that it should not be considered a definitive solution but rather a temporary measure during critical periods, while also advocating for a holistic approach to combatting air pollution.
