Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday said the government is planning to explore the feasibility of inducing rain through cloud seeding on an experimental basis in May to curb air pollution.
“We are fighting a war against air pollution in Delhi and are committed to implementing all necessary measures,” said the Minister.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Sirsa chaired a meeting on the matter with officials from several State and Union departments, including Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, and the Institute of Tropical Meteorology under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Representatives from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, were also part of the meeting.
A statement by the Minister’s office stated, “IIT-Kanpur has previously demonstrated success in cloud seeding, with six out of seven experiments showing positive results in inducing rainfall under suitable atmospheric conditions.”
Last year, then Environment Minister Gopal Rai (Aam Aadmi Party) wrote multiple letters to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, urging him to fast-track clearances for cloud seeding as an emergency measure to control air pollution. He had claimed that Mr. Yadav did not respond to the letters.
Published - April 04, 2025 01:21 am IST
