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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
Cloud seeding trials in September to combat pollution in Delhi
NEW DELHI: The national capital's first cloud seeding trial to induce artificial rain and curb air pollution will now take place in the first half of September, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Friday Initially scheduled for early July, the operation was postponed after expert agencies, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), IIT-Kanpur, and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, found July's weather unsuitable for cloud seeding. Authorities have now opted for a revised window in the first and second week of September, which aligns with the retreating monsoon, known for creating ideal atmospheric conditions for the process. The Delhi government has sanctioned Rs 3.21 crore for this experimental initiative. According to Sirsa, all necessary permissions have been secured, including operational clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. A Cessna 206-H aircraft, registered as VT-IIT, will be used for the operation. It has been specially outfitted with cloud seeding instrumentation by IIT-Kanpur, and its crew holds all requisite licenses and certifications. The trials will consist of five sorties over north Delhi areas such as Rohini, Bawana, Alipur, and Burari, extending into adjacent parts of Uttar Pradesh like Loni and Baghpat. During each sortie, the aircraft will fly below the cloud base and disperse hygroscopic substances, mainly sodium chloride and other aerosols, into the clouds. These particles help moisture in the atmosphere to condense and form raindrops, potentially leading to artificial rainfall. Officials hope that the resulting precipitation will help clear particulate matter from the air, improving the air quality. Strict aviation safety protocols will be observed, with the aircraft avoiding restricted zones and no aerial photography permitted during operations. 'This is a scientific intervention to combat air pollution. If successful, it could become a game-changer in environmental strategy, particularly during the high-pollution post-monsoon season,' Sirsa said, adding that the government is 'fully prepared' for the execution of the trial.
India Today
4 days ago
- Climate
- India Today
Delhi to conduct cloud seeding trials in September to curb air pollution
Delhi will witness its first cloud-seeding trial in the first two weeks of September in a bid to trigger artificial rain and reduce air pollution levels, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on trials, earlier planned for early July, were postponed after inputs from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), IIT-Kanpur, and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, indicated that weather conditions in July were not conducive for effective revised window was chosen to coincide with the retreating monsoon, which offers more suitable cloud conditions. The Delhi government has allocated Rs 3.21 crore for this pilot project, which is being led by the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted operational clearance for the trials. The aircraft has been equipped with cloud-seeding instrumentation, and its crew holds all the required licenses and clarified that the aircraft will avoid prohibited areas and no aerial photography will be conducted during the operation in strict adherence to aviation safety norms."We have taken all the necessary permissions, and the aircraft is fully ready. The cloud seeding will now take place in the first and second weeks of September," the minister said, adding that "the instrumentation work on the aircraft has been completed by IIT-Kanpur, and we are fully prepared."The trials, which will be conducted using a Cessna 206-H aircraft (VT-IIT), will consist of five sorties over pollution-prone regions in north Delhi, including Rohini, Bawana, Alipur and Burari, as well as parts of adjoining Uttar Pradesh, such as Loni and the sorties, the aircraft will fly below the cloud base and release hygroscopic particles - such as sodium chloride and other aerosols - into the clouds to stimulate precipitation. This weather modification technique is aimed at inducing artificial rain that could help wash out airborne pollutants.'This is a scientific intervention to combat air pollution. If successful, it will open a new avenue for Delhi to deal with hazardous air quality, especially during the post-monsoon period,' Sirsa said.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Delhi
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Delhi to conduct cloud seeding trials in September to combat air pollution: Environment Minister
Delhi will witness its first cloud seeding trial in the first two weeks of September in a bid to trigger artificial rain and reduce air pollution levels, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Friday (July 18, 2025). The trials, earlier planned for early July, were postponed after inputs from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), IIT-Kanpur, and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, indicated that weather conditions in July were not conducive for effective seeding. The revised window was chosen to coincide with the retreating monsoon, which offers more suitable cloud conditions. The Delhi government has allocated ₹3.21 crore for this pilot project, which is being led by the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT-Kanpur. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted operational clearance for the trials. The aircraft has been equipped with cloud seeding instrumentation, and its crew holds all the required licenses and certifications. Mr. Sirsa clarified that the aircraft will avoid prohibited areas and no aerial photography will be conducted during the operation in strict adherence to aviation safety norms. "We have taken all the necessary permissions, and the aircraft is fully ready. The cloud seeding will now take place in the first and second week of September," the Minister said, adding that "the instrumentation work on the aircraft has been completed by IIT-Kanpur, and we are fully prepared." The trials, which will be conducted using a Cessna 206-H aircraft (VT-IIT), will consist of five sorties over pollution-prone regions in north Delhi, including Rohini, Bawana, Alipur, and Burari, as well as parts of adjoining Uttar Pradesh, such as Loni and Baghpat. During the sorties, the aircraft will fly below the cloud base and release hygroscopic particles — such as sodium chloride and other aerosols — into the clouds to stimulate precipitation. This weather modification technique is aimed at inducing artificial rain that could help wash out airborne pollutants. 'This is a scientific intervention to combat air pollution. If successful, it will open a new avenue for Delhi to deal with hazardous air quality, especially during the post-monsoon period,' Mr. Sirsa said.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
CM Yogi praises KGMU's pivotal role in UP's timely Covid-19 response
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday praised King George's Medical University (KGMU) for its pivotal role in responding to the Covid-19 outbreak, marking the beginning of the state's timely and effective pandemic response. "It was here that testing for the first 100 suspected Covid-19 patients began, making it the first institution in Uttar Pradesh to initiate the tests," said the CM, who was in KGMU to inaugurate and lay the foundation of seven major projects worth Rs 941 crore. The also announced the establishment of a centre of excellence in medical technology at KGMU in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur. Addressing the gathering, CM Yogi highlighted the state's commitment to future-ready medical infrastructure and innovation. "The aim is to involve institutions like KGMU and SGPGI in pioneering research that will help make India self-reliant in healthcare technology," he said. "These enhancement projects represent more than just infrastructure development, they mark the beginning of a new era in our journey towards a 'Healthy Uttar Pradesh, Strong India,'" Yogi said. The CM called it a landmark moment for any medical institution, stating that projects worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore reflect the double-engine govt's strong commitment to building world-class healthcare infrastructure in UP. Emphasizing India's health sector improvement, he said, "Over the past 11 years, India achieved unprecedented growth across all sectors, including healthcare." He said that KGMU pioneered medical advancements in critical times and is now adopting technology to shape the future. The CM said KGMU has added a remarkable chapter to its 120-year legacy, emerging as a symbol of medical excellence and national service. Yogi further noted that the number of AIIMS institutes across the country has increased to 23, and UP is making steady progress with its vision of establishing 75 medical colleges in 75 districts. "In 2024 alone, MBBS courses commenced in 17 new medical colleges, 13 of which are govt-run, marking a major transformation in the state's healthcare system aimed at benefiting the common man," he said. Highlighting the healthcare expansion in Purvanchal, he said that advanced treatments for diseases like dengue and encephalitis were earlier limited to Lucknow. Now, facilities like platelets and dialysis are available in every district. Yogi also announced the setting up of a KGMU satellite centre in Balrampur, saying it's time for metro-level healthcare services to reach smaller cities. This step will reduce the burden on major hospitals in Lucknow and allow patients to receive treatment closer to home. Expressing satisfaction after interacting with patients, CM Yogi said patient trust is the most valuable asset of any institution. "It's not a small thing when a patient's confidence itself becomes a part of their healing. I saw that trust in the eyes of patients at KGMU," he remarked. Concluding his address, he urged doctors and healthcare administrators to remain forward-thinking and stay updated with changing times. "Whether it's an individual or an institution, those who fail to evolve with time are left behind. But those who move forward become a source of inspiration," he said. Earlier, Yogi inspected the newly launched facilities, interacted with doctors, and visited various wards to check on patients.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IIT-IIM graduate quit crore-paying Goldman Sachs job only to work as security guard? His story proves it takes just grit to get ahead
In a world where most dream of landing high-paying corporate jobs, Abhishek Kumar chose a completely different path, one that began with him working as a security guard for 14 hours a day. His goal? To deeply understand the real-life problems faced by guards before launching a tech solution. Recently, industrialist Harsh Goenka shared Abhishek's incredible journey on social media, calling it a story worth learning from. An alumnus of IIT-Kanpur and IIM-Ahmedabad, Abhishek once held a prestigious role as Vice President at Goldman Sachs. But instead of climbing further up the corporate ladder, he left it all behind to solve a problem few were paying attention to. — hvgoenka (@hvgoenka) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo From Goldman Sachs to Gated Communities Abhishek's life took a major turn when he decided to become a co-founder of MyGate, a security and community management app used by over 4 million residents in 25,000+ housing societies across India. But before building the app, he did something very few would do, he put on a security guard's uniform and worked a full 14-hour shift just like any other guard. In a LinkedIn post, Abhishek wrote about how he followed guards, observed their routine, and even took over their duties to get first-hand experience. He saw how they handled more than 50 calls a day, maintained visitor records by hand, and still received complaints from residents. These experiences helped him understand that the problem wasn't just about technology, it was about trust, design, and ease of use. Live Events The Spark Behind MyGate The idea behind MyGate came in 2016, when Vijay Arisetty, a Shaurya Chakra awardee and former Indian Air Force pilot, predicted a shift towards smart, secure, and connected residential societies in India. Along with Abhishek and Shreyans Daga (an IIT Guwahati and ISB alumnus), they formed the team that would launch MyGate. Their aim was clear: make residential security smarter, simpler, and more efficient, not just for residents, but for the guards too. Learning by Doing: Abhishek's Unique Approach What truly sets Abhishek apart is his hands-on approach. He believes in walking in the shoes of users to find solutions. Even after MyGate had grown, he continued shadowing guards to better understand their challenges. In fact, nine years after the idea began, he once again worked a 12-hour shift, from 8 am to 8 pm, just to stay in touch with the ground reality. MyGate Today: A Success Story Rooted in Empathy Today, MyGate is one of India's most trusted apps for community security and visitor management. It offers features like digital check-ins, visitor tracking, delivery management, and much more. The app has improved the lives of both residents and guards by reducing manual work and improving transparency. Inputs from agencies
