The Delhi government is fully prepared to conduct cloud seeding to create artificial rain and reduce air pollution following the Diwali festivities. Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that four days of successful trial flights have already taken place over northwest Delhi. The project is now waiting for final approval from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
“Our aircraft is ready at Meerut. 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 on the day after Diwali or the following day, if conditions are suitable,” Sirsa said.
How does the Delhi Cloud Seeding work?
Cloud seeding involves spraying particles such as silver iodide (AgI) into clouds to help them produce rain. The Delhi project is being carried out in partnership with IIT Kanpur, which has modified a Cessna-206H aircraft for this purpose.
Nimbostratus clouds, located between 500 meters and 6,000 meters above the ground, are ideal for cloud seeding. However, they must have at least 50% moisture. At the moment, Delhi’s skies do not have enough moisture or dense cloud cover, which is delaying the operation.
“We are closely monitoring atmospheric conditions, waiting for the right window,” said an IIT official involved in the project.
How Artificial Rain Will Impact Delhi’s Air Quality?
Experts say that rain can reduce air pollution levels by 50–80 AQI points, depending on how much and how long it rains. If Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) is in the “very poor” category, it may improve to “poor.” If it is “poor,” it could move to “moderate.”
However, light rain or drizzle will not make a big difference. For a strong “washout effect,” Delhi needs heavy and sustained rainfall.
“Wind speed, area of influence, and rain intensity will determine the impact,” said Dipankar Saha, former head of CPCB’s air lab.
What is the Timeline of the Project?
The Delhi Cabinet approved the ₹ 3.21 crore plan in May 2025. The project has received permissions from over 10 departments, including the Union environment, defense, and home ministries, along with DGCA, BCAS, AAI, and the UP government.
A MoU with IIT Kanpur was signed on September 25, and flight clearance was granted a day before that.
Originally, the cloud seeding trials were planned for May-June, but were postponed due to the monsoon. Later windows in August-September and October were also missed due to rain and weather changes.
