Why artificial rain in Delhi is still under cloud

NEW DELHI: Scientists’ wait for appropriate cloud conditions to create artificial rain through cloud-seeding in the Capital may get longer.
“We are waiting for appropriate clouds. Everything else (clearances and logistics) is in place, but there is no sign of clouds. It’ll happen only when Delhi gets clouds that can produce results. There is no point in cloud-seeding which will not give results,” a top environment ministry official said.

Acting on a proposal from scientists of IIT Kanpur, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had planned artificial rain through cloud-seeding in the city to wash away air pollutants as a short-term emergency measure. It was planned as an experiment for late November but the absence of clouds during the period forced them to postpone it.

Asked about the move, IIT Kanpur scientist Sachchida Nand Tripathi told TOI on Sunday that the team had got most of the clearances but it was waiting for appropriate clouds.

“We haven’t got such clouds after November 13-14. Once we get prediction of such dense clouds and get aircraft for that period, we’ll be ready for cloud-seeding on short notice,” said Tripathi who has been working closely with the CPCB on this project.

Noting that the CPCB wants to do it as an experiment to figure out what can work in a crisis situation, the ministry official said, “IIT Kanpur has expertise. So, we have decided to let them try. Unless we try, how do we know whether it will be successful or not.”