Capital prepares for India’s first urban artificial-rain experiment to combat post-festival smog
(By Sarhind Times Environment Bureau | New Delhi | October 17, 2025)
New Delhi — A New Hope in the Sky
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Delhi’s Environment Ministry has lined up a cloud-seeding experiment immediately after Diwali, aiming to induce artificial rain and disperse pollutants during the city’s most toxic air spell.
Officials confirmed that trial flights have already been conducted over identified sectors of the National Capital Region (NCR), but the final operation is pending clearance from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Once approved, this will mark Delhi’s first official attempt at weather modification for air-quality management.
“The plan is ready. We are only waiting for IMD’s meteorological clearance,” said Environment Minister Gopal Rai. “Our goal is to test scientific possibilities — not miracles — but any relief to citizens will be valuable.”
The project, developed in partnership with IIT Kanpur’s Department of Earth Sciences, will assess whether cloud seeding — a process of injecting silver iodide or sodium chloride into moisture-rich clouds — can trigger rainfall sufficient to settle airborne particulates and reduce AQI concentrations.
The Science of Cloud Seeding
Cloud seeding is not new, but its adaptation for urban air purification is a relatively recent frontier.
In this process:
- Aircraft release tiny particles (called nuclei) into moisture-laden clouds.
- These nuclei help condense water vapor into droplets, leading to precipitation.
- If successful, the rain can wash out particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), improving air quality temporarily.
Globally, the method has been used in China, the UAE, Thailand, and the United States—primarily for drought management and agricultural needs. Delhi’s experiment adds an air-quality control dimension to this portfolio.
“Rainfall, even light, can reduce PM levels by up to 60% within hours,” explained Dr. Manindra Agrawal, lead scientist from IIT Kanpur. “The challenge is not technology, but timing — we need the right kind of cloud with enough moisture.”
Why Now: The Pollution Context
Each year after Diwali, Delhi’s air quality collapses into the ‘severe’ category, with AQI often breaching 400–500, driven by a toxic mix of fireworks, stubble burning, and stagnant winter air.
Despite measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — including bans on diesel vehicles, construction halts, and sprinkling drives — meteorological conditions make pollutant dispersion difficult.
“Nature becomes a ceiling,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). “If we can’t move the air, we may as well try to change it.”
Cloud seeding, in this context, is being viewed as a “climate-tech intervention” — an emergency experiment to create artificial relief when natural systems fail to cooperate.
Operational Blueprint: How the Trial Will Work
According to officials, the plan involves two aircraft equipped with cloud-seeding flares stationed at the Safdarjung and Hindon airbases. The operation will be conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and IIT Kanpur.
- Flight Path: Western and northern parts of Delhi, extending toward Gurugram and Ghaziabad, identified as pollution hotspots.
- Ideal Conditions: Cloud base height between 2–4 km, relative humidity above 60%, and low wind shear.
- Seeding Agents: Silver iodide and common salt flares designed to trigger micro-droplet coalescence.
- Duration: 1–2 hours of flight per trial, with follow-up AQI analysis for 48 hours.
“The first phase will be experimental. If it succeeds, we may repeat it in other NCR districts,” confirmed Ashwini Chaudhary, senior officer at the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
IMD’s Role and Pending Clearance
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has the final say, as the operation depends entirely on favorable atmospheric conditions. Officials noted that while moisture profiles are improving after late monsoon remnants, convective clouds may not persist long enough for sustained seeding.
“Cloud seeding cannot work on dry or dissipating clouds,” said IMD Director General Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra. “We will assess parameters such as humidity, temperature lapse rates, and droplet concentration before granting the green light.”
Once cleared, a joint control room comprising IMD, IIT Kanpur, and DPCC officials will coordinate air and ground operations in real time.
Global Precedents: Learning from the World
| Country | Primary Goal | Reported Effectiveness | Notable Cities |
| China | Rain enhancement & pollution reduction | 25–40% success rate | Beijing, Chengdu |
| UAE | Artificial rainfall & cloud microphysics study | 30% | Abu Dhabi, Al Ain |
| Thailand | Smog reduction | 20–25% | Chiang Mai |
| USA | Drought mitigation | 30–50% | Nevada, Colorado |
| India (proposed) | Air quality improvement | TBD | Delhi-NCR |
China’s weather modification bureau regularly uses seeding before major national events to “clear the sky” for visibility. However, scientists note that such measures are temporary, not a long-term solution.
Cost and Logistics
Officials estimate the trial will cost around ₹1.2 crore, covering aircraft leasing, flares, meteorological support, and AQI monitoring.
Critics argue that while the cost is modest for a megacity, transparency in outcomes will determine its credibility.
“We must publish data — how much rain, how much pollutant reduction, and for how long,” said Dr. Sushmita Sen, atmospheric physicist at Delhi University. “Otherwise, it risks becoming a publicity flight.”
The Delhi government has assured that all data and results will be made public, including meteorological conditions, pollutant readings, and post-event analysis.
Civil Society and Public Concerns
While most environmental groups welcomed the scientific experiment, some urged caution.
“Weather modification isn’t a switch you flip,” said Ravi Agrawal of Clean Air Collective NCR. “We support the trial, but the focus must remain on systemic issues — waste burning, traffic emissions, and construction dust.”
Activists are also demanding public oversight to ensure that silver iodide use remains within safe limits and that chemical dispersion is regulated.
“The composition and dispersal zones should be disclosed,” said Kiran Bhardwaj, member of Citizen Science Watch Delhi.
Health and Environmental Safety
Experts note that the quantities of seeding chemicals used are typically microscopic and unlikely to pose health risks. Silver iodide, while chemically active, is released in nanogram-scale doses that disperse rapidly in the atmosphere.
“The environmental footprint is minimal compared to industrial emissions,” clarified IITM scientist Dr. Ravi Suresh. “Our main concern is accuracy, not toxicity.”
However, authorities have outlined post-trial monitoring for soil and water samples to ensure no accumulation occurs in sensitive zones.
Timing and Forecast: Waiting for the Perfect Cloud
According to IMD’s medium-range models, moisture build-up from a western disturbance may create a narrow window of opportunity between November 10–15, just after Diwali and GRAP’s peak enforcement phase.
If the trial coincides with this period, experts predict temporary AQI relief of 20–30% across affected zones.
“Even a brief spell of light rain could drastically settle particulates and improve visibility,” said Dr. D. Saha, former CPCB scientist. “It won’t solve the problem, but it can provide breathing space.”
Public Messaging and Awareness
The Environment Ministry plans to coordinate a public advisory campaign titled “Rain for Relief”, urging residents to:
- Avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure during operations.
- Refrain from panic or misinformation about artificial chemicals.
- Report post-event anomalies via the Green Delhi App.
“We want transparency. Citizens should understand that this is science, not sorcery,” said Minister Gopal Rai.
Challenges and Criticism
Skeptics have questioned whether cloud seeding risks diverting focus from preventive policies.
“We can’t replace emission reduction with rainmaking,” argued environmentalist Sunita Narain. “It may work once, but the long-term answer is cutting pollution at its source.”
Others raised operational hurdles — short-lived clouds, uncertain efficacy, and difficulty in isolating cause-effect relationships.
“If it rains naturally during the window, attribution becomes impossible,” noted Dr. Mahesh Patankar, environmental statistician.
Still, officials maintain that innovation and experimentation are integral to India’s Clean Air Mission 2.0, which includes data-driven interventions, AI-based AQI modeling, and adaptive meteorology.
GRAP + Cloud Seeding: A Dual Front
The cloud-seeding initiative runs parallel to existing GRAP Stage-1 and Stage-2 measures, which include:
- Mechanical road cleaning and anti-smog guns.
- Curtailment of construction and demolition activity.
- Crackdowns on polluting vehicles and dust emitters.
- Emergency traffic regulation in “red zones.”
The hope is that artificial rain will accelerate GRAP’s impact by flushing pollutants after they’ve been mechanically reduced.
“Think of it as the final rinse cycle in an air-cleaning system,” said CAQM official Arvind Bhatnagar.
Public Expectation and Sentiment
Residents of Delhi, weary of yearly “gas chamber” headlines, have expressed cautious optimism.
“If it brings even two days of blue sky, it’s worth a try,” said Priya Mehta, school teacher from Lajpat Nagar.
“We’ve lived through too many winters behind masks and air purifiers.”
Others remain skeptical:
“Don’t make it a gimmick,” said Rohit Khanna, Noida tech worker. “Fix the roads, the dust, the diesel — then look to the clouds.”
The Road Ahead: Science Meets Policy
If successful, Delhi’s trial could pave the way for India’s National Artificial Rain Programme, integrating meteorological engineering into air management systems for Mumbai, Lucknow, and Patna, which face similar winter pollution crises.
“We’re not chasing fantasy,” said IIT Kanpur’s Dr. Agrawal. “We’re exploring science that complements discipline, not replaces it.”
The experiment represents a symbolic shift in India’s environmental strategy—from reactive bans to proactive innovation.
Conclusion: A City Looks Up
For once, Delhi’s smog-choked citizens have a reason to look skyward — not for clearer weather, but for a scientific breakthrough that might make it possible.
Whether cloud seeding delivers real rain or just metaphorical hope, it signals a city unwilling to surrender to its pollution fate.
If nature won’t clean the air, Delhi seems ready to help it along.
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