Delhi Surroundings Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa mentioned on Wednesday that town is absolutely ready to start cloud seeding operations. A Cessna plane and all required tools are prepared, pilots are licensed. The authorities are actually ready for approval from the India Meteorological Division (IMD) to start out the method as quickly as appropriate clouds seem, ANI reported.
Sirsa highlighted that the cloud seeding course of goals to provide synthetic rainfall and take away pollution, and the entire process relies on appropriate atmospheric circumstances.
He mentioned, “For cloud seeding, clouds are important. We have already got full permission from the India Meteorological Division (IMD), and the whole lot is underneath management. The planes have arrived, together with the Cessna, and all the required tools has been put in. The pilots have obtained their licenses. Now, we’re simply ready for the inexperienced sign from the Meteorological Division to proceed with cloud seeding. We’re assured that inside the subsequent week, as quickly because the clouds type, the cloud seeding operations might be carried out,” ANI reported.
When will cloud seeding start?
Sirsa added that cloud seeding to manage air air pollution will probably start inside per week, including that whereas earlier governments had solely talked, his administration accomplished the groundwork in seven months and is now awaiting the climate division’s approval, pending the looks of clouds.
Sirsa highlighted that that that they had acquired all mandatory permissions and that pilots and planes are prepared. He mentioned the position of cloud seeding in decreasing air pollution and added his administration had accomplished the groundwork for the method inside simply seven months, together with approvals, agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), consultations with scientists, and preparations with pilots and plane.
Earlier, Sirsa reaffirmed the BJP authorities’s plan for synthetic rain by cloud seeding. Nonetheless, he famous that cloud seeding can solely be carried out “when there are clouds.”
“For many who are asking us, why are we not getting cloud seeding achieved. I wish to inform them that in cloud seeding, the cloud comes first after which comes seeding. Seeding can solely be achieved when there are clouds. The day there might be clouds, we are going to get seeding achieved and there might be rain as effectively,” ANI reported.
Position of cloud seeding in decreasing air pollution
Highlighting the rise in AQI by 11 factors on the subsequent day of Diwali celebrations, indicators an alarming state of affairs in Delhi-NCR area. The minister in contrast the rise in air air pollution to earlier years when firecrackers have been both partially or utterly banned.
“In 2020, the firecrackers in Diwali have been occurring. At the moment, PM 2.5 was 414 earlier than Diwali and 435 after Diwali. There was a rise of 21 factors within the firecrackers. In 2021, there was a rise of 80 factors. In 2024, when the firecrackers have been banned, the AQI was 328 earlier than Diwali and 360 after Diwali. 32 factors elevated when the firecrackers have been banned. On the order of the Supreme Court docket and on the request of the Delhi authorities, we acquired permission for inexperienced firecrackers, ANI reported.
Earlier than Diwali, the AQI was 345, and after Diwali, the AQI was noticed at 356, ANI stories citing stories of CPCB’s Sameer App. Solely 11 factors elevated when the firecrackers have been allowed,” the Delhi Surroundings Minister mentioned.
What’s cloud seeding?
Cloud seeding helps cut back air air pollution by triggering synthetic rain that washes away mud and dangerous particles from the air. Nonetheless, it really works solely when clouds are current and provides short-term reduction, not a everlasting resolution.

