Responding to Delhi government’s artificial rain trial, environmental experts have called it a short-term measure. Environmentalists have said that this may reduce pollution temporarily, but it will not solve the root causes of the deteriorating air quality in the national capital. In fact, the Delhi government, in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur, conducted a trial on Tuesday (28 October) to provide artificial rainfall in some parts of the city.

Environmentalist Vimalendu Jha said, “Rain can reduce pollution, but it is only a temporary solution, which can provide relief for a few days. This cannot be done every time.” He said that the government should focus on tackling pollution at the grassroots level.

Artificial rain also affects soil and water bodies – Expert

Vimalendu Jha questioned, “Artificial rain also affects the soil and water bodies because chemicals like sulfur and iodide are sprayed for it. Moreover, this approach is city-specific, what about pollutants coming from neighboring states?”

Author and clean air advocate Jyoti Pandey Lavrey compared the artificial rain test to previous short-term measures such as ‘smog towers’. He said, “The only way to reduce pollution is to reduce emissions, for which no one is ready.” Adding chemicals to clouds or air is for show, not for real change,” he said, adding that recent policy decisions like withdrawal of emission norms for thermal power plants have weakened pollution control efforts.

‘Such options should not be seen as solutions’

Kriti Gupta, another environmentalist, said that such options can be considered, but should not be seen as solutions in themselves. “We should be prepared for scientific trials, but should not prioritize them as the only option,” he said. Citizen awareness, reduced use of private transport, control of dust sources and better waste management are necessary for sustainable improvement.

Artificial rain trial to provide relief from air pollution

Artificial rain was tested on Tuesday in an effort to provide relief to Delhi from air pollution. Last week also, the aircraft had carried out a test flight to spray chemicals for artificial rain in Burari area. During this period, limited spraying of silver iodide and sodium chloride compounds was done. However, the effort did not succeed due to atmospheric moisture levels being less than 20 percent, compared to 50 percent required for successful artificial rainfall.

Delhi air pollution: Artificial rain will be resorted to to deal with the problem of air pollution in Delhi. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Saturday (June 28) that for the first time in the national capital, there will be artificial rains with the aim of reducing air pollution. Cloud seeding will be done between 4 to 11 July, which will depend on the weather conditions.

According to PTI, Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that IIT Kanpur has presented the flight plan for the seeding operation to IMD Pune for technical co-ordination. The minister said, “The conditions for cloud seeding till 3 July are not correct, but the flight window has been proposed from July 4 to 11.”

Proposal was also sent to DGCA- Sirsa

He said that a proposal has also been sent to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in which the alternative window has been requested in case of adverse weather during the stipulated period so that the testing can be done on the later date. Sirsa said, “This initiative is a historic step in urban pollution control and it is being implemented for the first time by the Department of Environment under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

Giving clean air to Delhiites purpose- Sirsa

The Environment Minister of Delhi, while insisting, further said, “Our aim is to give clean air to Delhiites. This is the most fundamental right of every resident and the government is looking for every possible solution to give it. That is why we are taking this bold step of artificial rain. We hope that this will change meaningful.

Saurabh Bhardwaj’s replies to allegations

In response to the allegations of Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bhardwaj about pollution, Minister Sirsa clarified, “We were the first to sign the memorandum, made all the payment to IIT Kanpur and applied for the necessary approval because we want real action. The AAP did not talk about artificial rain. On the other hand we have worked honestly.

He further said that this is the reason that within just four months of forming the government, we have reached the stage of fixing the first artificial rain date in Delhi. AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj had claimed that the BJP and the Center obstructed the pollution control efforts of the city and had mocked the proposal of artificial rain during extreme pollution in winter.