Delhi's First Trial Run of Artificial Rain to be Conducted From July 4-11: Environment minister

The Wire

5 hours ago

Environment
AAP, Delhi's former ruling party, which had earlier suggested cloud seeding to reduce air pollution, has raised questions about conducting the trial run in monsoon.
Vehicles ply on a road near the India Gate on a cloudy afternoon, in New Delhi. Photo: PTI
New Delhi: While it may bear good news to Delhiites hoping for better air quality, the timing may prove to be the spoiler.
Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has announced that his government would go ahead with a trial run of artificial rain in the national capital to lower air pollution, a first of its kind and a much-awaited welcome move, but he also said that the trial would run between this July 14 and 11 which would be after the onset of the monsoons in the area.
Speaking to media persons on June 28, Sirsa said, 'The initiative marks a historic step in controlling urban air pollution. Our aim is to provide Delhiites with clean air. That's why we are taking this bold step of inducing artificial rain. We are hopeful that it will bring about a meaningful change.'
As per media reports, the trial would be carried out by the Indian Meteorological Institute as per a plan for cloud seeding submitted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. 'The premier engineering institute has been tasked with implementing the project by overseeing deployment of aircraft, chemical disposal, scientific modelling, planning, and operational logistics,' stated The Hindu.
The report does quote the minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) admitting that the weather conditions for the project 'were found to be unsuitable until July 3' but added that 'a widow has been identified between July 4 and 11.'
What is of concern, though, is whether the heavy waterlogging that usually happens after the rains across the city would get adequate time to clear up before the artificial rains drop on the city.
The report added that the Delhi government has sent a proposal to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which would be providing the aircraft, requesting an 'alternative window' in case the weather conditions remain unfavourable after July 3 so that the trial could be carried out at a later date.
It must be noted that though the BJP government in Delhi has pushed for the trial, the Union government run by its party, did not move when the former Aam Aadmi Party's government had written letters to the Narendra Modi government to fast-track the clearances needed for cloud seeding even though it had called it an emergency measure to bring down air pollution in the city.
Then Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai, on November 19, 2024, had written to the Union government, seeking PM Modi's intervention for artificial rain in the national capital to combat the worsening air pollution levels. Addressing a press meet that day, Rai had then said that his immediate intervention was required as it 'is his moral responsibility' as it 'is a medical emergency'.
However, there was no response from the prime minister's office or his government then. He had also cited a letter addressed to Union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav seeking the approvals for artificial rain. He said, 'He (Yadav) has not called a single meeting on artificial rain despite my four letters sent in August, September, October and today.'
'PM Modi should ask his environment minister to convene a meeting on artificial rain. Either give a solution or clear the path for artificial rains. If central government cannot act, their minister should resign,' Rai had told reporters.
The Wire tried reaching out to Gopal Rai on the matter but failed to get a response.
Following the BJP's announcement, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj, however, questioned the idea for a trial during the monsoons. Who conducts an artificial rain trial during the rainy season, he asked.
Sirsa's response gave away his party's attempt at taking credit for it.
'We were the ones who signed the memorandum of understanding first, made the payment to IIT, Kanpur, and applied for the necessary approvals because we want to bring about actual change… AAP did not do anything except talk about inducing artificial rain. Our government (BJP's Rekha Gupta-led government), on the other hand, has worked sincerely. That is why, within just four months of forming the government, we are at the stage of finalising the date for Delhi's first artificial rain,' he claimed.
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