The Delhi government has announced that it is fully prepared to conduct cloud seeding to induce artificial rain in an effort to reduce pollution levels around Diwali. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Wednesday that four days of successful trial flights have already been conducted over northwest Delhi, and the operation now awaits final approval from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
“Our aircraft is ready at Meerut, and the pilots have familiarised themselves with the flight path. We’re only waiting for IMD’s green signal and the right cloud conditions. If all goes well, the first trial could happen even the day after Diwali or the following day,” Sirsa said.
The ₹3.21-crore project, carried out in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, involves a modified Cessna-206H aircraft designed specifically for cloud seeding. The plan aims to disperse silver iodide into moisture-laden clouds to enhance rainfall. Nimbostratus clouds, typically found between 500 and 6,000 metres above the ground, are considered ideal for this process, but current atmospheric conditions in Delhi lack sufficient moisture, delaying the operation.
Officials said they are closely tracking weather patterns to identify the right window for seeding. The project has already received clearances from over 10 authorities, including the Union environment, defence, and home ministries, DGCA, BCAS, AAI, and the Uttar Pradesh government.
Experts believe that effective rainfall could improve Delhi’s air quality by 50 to 80 AQI points, depending on rain intensity and spread. However, light drizzle may not make a noticeable impact. “Sustained and strong showers are needed for a washout effect,” said Dipankar Saha, former head of CPCB’s air lab.
Despite optimism from government officials, environmental experts remain skeptical. “Such experiments have been tried in countries like Dubai to tackle droughts, not pollution,” said Sunil Dahiya, founder of Envirocatalysts. “In Pakistan, similar trials led to temporary relief, but AQI levels rebounded quickly. For Delhi, the challenge is much larger the entire city would need to be seeded effectively.”
The trials, initially scheduled for May-June, were delayed multiple times due to the monsoon season and weather fluctuations. Authorities now hope the upcoming Diwali window will finally provide the right conditions for this ambitious anti-pollution experiment.