‘All clearances in place for artificial rain pilot'
New Delhi: Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday said the artificial rain pilot is ready for execution, with all scientific systems and clearances in place. He mentioned that the cloud seeding flights will commence when suitable weather conditions—especially cloud moisture and depth—are observed over targeted zones.
"All preparations are complete except for a few minor operational clearances. Now, we're just waiting for the right clouds to appear. The moment the weather cooperates, Delhi will witness its first artificial rain. This is a national-first experiment rooted in science, executed with military-grade precision, and evaluated in real time," Sirsa said.
India Meteorological Department has confirmed cloud feasibility and will provide real-time data on cloud type, altitude, wind conditions, and dew point to aid planning.
As the pilot project will be executed in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur, the institute will deploy specially equipped Cessna aircraft with flare-based seeding systems using a proprietary formulation made of Silver Iodide nanoparticles, iodised salt, and rock salt.
A maximum of five sorties are planned, with each flight covering 100 sq km and lasting at least 1 hour and 30 minutes over non-sensitive zones of northwest and outer Delhi. "Flights will avoid restricted airspace such as VIP-89 (Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, PM residence), as per standard aviation protocol. However, real-time impact on air quality (PM2.5 and PM10) will be measured using Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) placed in and around the seeding zones," Sirsa added.
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Hindustan Times
37 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Delhi govt hopeful of cloud-seeding trials by month-end
New Delhi The Delhi government is hopeful of conducting a pilot cloud-seeding trial by the month-end, environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Wednesday, pointing out that barring a few technical clearances from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Delhi government has received approval for the project. The ministry of defence has allowed the government to fly a plane for the project from the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad. Sirsa said that once the final clearance is in place, the government will seek a six-hour plan from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which will analyse moisture content in the air, geographical spread of clouds and their density in the Capital. 'The good news is that the permissions we needed from the agencies and central government departments have all been received, barring a few technical clearances from the DGCA, which should be in by next week,' Sirsa said. 'We have already spoken to IMD and they will share with us a deep analysis of the atmospheric conditions. These six-hour plans will basically tell us when to fly the plane and in which areas we have suitable moisture and conditions to do cloud-seeding,' Sirsa said. Cloud-seeding is a weather modification technique, wherein silver iodide (AgI) is released into the atmosphere to aid the formation of ice crystals and improve the ability of the cloud to create rain. 'A team from IIT Kanpur met us on Tuesday night. The team will remain in Delhi and once we get the data from IMD, we can practically hold the first trial within 24 hours,' Sirsa said. The government said the trial will take place only in the outer parts of Delhi. 'The flights will avoid restricted airspace such as VIP-89 (Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, PM residence), as per standard aviation protocol,' an official said. When put to the minister that the southwest monsoon, which generally hits the Capital on June 27, was progressing at a faster-than-usual pace, Sirsa said it would not impact their plans. 'We will not hold a trial on the day it is already raining, but on a day when there is sufficient moisture but less chance of natural rain,' Sirsa said. On Wednesday, Delhi's air quality index (AQI) was 81 (satisfactory), its lowest since it was 76 (satisfactory) on September 29, 2024. Sirsa said testing the impact on Delhi's air quality was not the primary aim of this trial. 'We already know rain positively impacts air quality. The goal of this trial instead will be to determine whether or not this will work, how much area it can influence and how much rain is possible,' he said. Sirsa said that according to IIT Kanpur, Nimbostratus (Ns) clouds were most suitable for seeding experiments, and these are usually at heights between 500 and 6,000 metres. 'The clouds also need to have 50% or higher moisture content.,' he said, adding IIT Kanpur custom seeding mixture, in addition to silver iodide, also contains powdered rock salt, iodized salt and a free-flowing agent that combines hygroscopic and glaciogenic cloud-seeding capabilities. 'The seeding mixture requirement will vary according to moisture content.' On May 8, Sirsa announced that the government sanctioned a project outlay of ₹3.21 crore, with five trials to cost ₹55 lakh each. The remaining ₹66 lakh would cover aircraft calibration, chemical storage, logistics, and other preparatory arrangements. 'The pilot will be conducted with five flights and in a coverage area of 100 sq km. The trial will be done in northwest or outer districts of Delhi,' Sirsa had said in May. To be sure, the state government needs clearances for trials from the Special Protection Group (SPG), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Union ministries of environment, defence and home, the Uttar Pradesh state government, IMD, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Manindra Agarwal from IIT Kanpur said that while Delhi's air was fairly clean at present, the trial will allow them to assess the impact of silver iodide. 'A concern being raised by people was how silver iodide will impact the environment. As per our assessment, the impact is negligible. However, this run will provide us with fresh data for the same. We will collect water samples after it rains to assess the concentration of silver iodide,' he said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
City surpasses June's Rainfall Quota By 18%
New Delhi: Delhi has surpassed the normal rainfall for the entire month of June by 18% and more is expected. After the capital got 29mm rainfall in the last 24 hours till 8.30am on Wednesday, the city had logged 87.8mm in June so far, compared to the monthly average of 74.1 mm. The monthly total rainfall is likely to rise with more rain expected this week and the monsoon expected next week. The city did not receive rain from 8.30am to 5.30pm, but the Met department has forecast rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds for the next seven days. The normal date for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Delhi is June 27. It arrived in Delhi on June 28 last year. Delhiites saw a day of "extremely heavy rain" with Safdarjung, the city's base station, logging 228.1mm in a day. The monsoon may reach the city by next week. The India Meteorological Department on Wednesday said the southwest monsoon has further advanced over some more parts of the north Arabian Sea, the remaining parts of Gujarat, some parts of Rajasthan, some more parts of Madhya Pradesh, some parts of east Uttar Pradesh, and the remaining parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, and some more parts of Bihar. "Conditions are favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon over the remaining parts of the north Arabian Sea, some more parts of Rajasthan, the remaining parts of Madhya Pradesh, some more parts of Uttar Pradesh, and the remaining parts of Bihar, some parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad during the next 2-3 days," IMD said in a statement. IMD has issued a 'yellow' alert for light to moderate rain, thunderstorms and lightning with gusty winds (speed 40-50kmph) temporarily reaching 60kmph during thunderstorms towards evening or night on Wednesday and Thursday. A yellow alert for rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds is also in place for June 21 and 22. "Heatwave conditions are unlikely over the next seven days," an IMD official said. The maximum temperature was recorded at 34.2 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal. The minimum settled at 24.2 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal. The relative humidity was between 65% and 100%. Delhi logged 243.4mm of rainfall in June 2024, 101.7mm in June 2023, and just 24.5mm of rainfall in June 2022.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Rain keeps temperature in check, humidity & discomfort soar
1 2 Gurgaon: Moderate rainfall across the city early on Tuesday morning brought much-needed relief from the oppressive humidity of recent days, though it also caused waterlogging and traffic disruptions in parts of the city. According to official data, Farukhnagar recorded the highest rainfall at 54 mm, followed by Wazirabad (47 mm), Manesar (42 mm), and Kadipur and Harsaru (39 mm each). Badshahpur saw 38 mm of rain, while Sohna and Pataudi recorded lighter showers at 18 mm and 15 mm, respectively. The rain led to a notable drop in temperatures. The minimum fell by 2.5 degrees from the previous day, settling at 24.1-degree Celsius, while the maximum dipped to 33.1 degree Celsius — 1.1 degrees lower than Monday's reading. Although no rain was recorded during the day, overcast skies kept the weather cool and damp. Residents welcomed the change but also pointed out civic shortcomings. "The rain was a welcome change after days of unbearable humidity," said Poonam Sinha from Sector 56. "But waterlogging near our colony made commuting difficult in the morning." Ravi Sharma, a Manesar resident, raised similar concerns. "The temperature drop is good, but the drainage system really needs attention. Even moderate rain leads to flooding here." The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for the region, predicting continued rainfall over the next six days, along with gusty winds and possible thunderstorms. "Residents are advised to stay indoors during thunderstorms and avoid sheltering under trees or metal structures," an IMD official said. "There is a risk of lightning and disruptions to traffic and public services." Temperatures are expected to fall by another two degrees in the coming days, but rising humidity may keep conditions muggy. Delhi, meanwhile, has surpassed the normal rainfall for the entire month of June by 18% and more is expected. After the capital got 29mm rainfall in the last 24 hours till 8.30am on Wednesday, the city had logged 87.8mm in June so far, compared to the monthly average of 74.1 mm. The monthly total rainfall is likely to rise with more rain expected this week and the monsoon expected next week. The city did not receive rain from 8.30am to 5.30pm, but the Met department has forecast rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds for the next seven days. The normal date for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Delhi is June 27. It arrived in Delhi on June 28 last year. Delhiites saw a day of "extremely heavy rain" with Safdarjung, the city's base station, logging 228.1mm in a day. The monsoon may reach the city by next week. The India Meteorological Department on Wednesday said the southwest monsoon has further advanced over some more parts of the north Arabian Sea, the remaining parts of Gujarat, some parts of Rajasthan, some more parts of Madhya Pradesh, some parts of east Uttar Pradesh, and the remaining parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, and some more parts of Bihar. "Conditions are favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon over the remaining parts of the north Arabian Sea, some more parts of Rajasthan, the remaining parts of Madhya Pradesh, some more parts of Uttar Pradesh, and the remaining parts of Bihar, some parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad during the next 2-3 days," IMD said in a statement.
