Delhi will experience artificial rain for the first time ever. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced the cloud seeding project Saturday. Officials plan the operation between July 4 and 11 depending on weather conditions. The program aims to reduce dangerous air pollution levels across the capital city. IIT Kanpur submitted flight plans to weather authorities for approval.
Weather experts said conditions remain unsuitable until July 3. Delhi officials requested backup dates from aviation authorities if weather stays poor. Chief MinisterRekha Gupta leads this historic pollution control effort. The environment department wants to provide clean air for all residents. Government leaders call clean air a basic human right.
Opposition party AAP criticized the artificial rain proposal during winter pollution peaks. Sirsa responded that his government signed agreements and made payments to IIT Kanpur first. The current administration took action within four months of taking office. Previous leaders only talked about artificial rain without real progress. Delhi officials completed all necessary paperwork and approvals for the project.
Five aircraft will fly over northwest and outer Delhi areas. Each flight lasts 90 minutes and covers 100 square kilometers of sky. Modified Cessna planes will release special seeding mixtures through flare systems. Scientists at IIT Kanpur created the formula with silver iodide particles and different salts. The mixture helps form water droplets inside moisture-heavy clouds to create rainfall.
Weather experts said conditions remain unsuitable until July 3. Delhi officials requested backup dates from aviation authorities if weather stays poor. Chief MinisterRekha Gupta leads this historic pollution control effort. The environment department wants to provide clean air for all residents. Government leaders call clean air a basic human right.
Opposition party AAP criticized the artificial rain proposal during winter pollution peaks. Sirsa responded that his government signed agreements and made payments to IIT Kanpur first. The current administration took action within four months of taking office. Previous leaders only talked about artificial rain without real progress. Delhi officials completed all necessary paperwork and approvals for the project.
Five aircraft will fly over northwest and outer Delhi areas. Each flight lasts 90 minutes and covers 100 square kilometers of sky. Modified Cessna planes will release special seeding mixtures through flare systems. Scientists at IIT Kanpur created the formula with silver iodide particles and different salts. The mixture helps form water droplets inside moisture-heavy clouds to create rainfall.
