Delhi’s much-anticipated cloud seeding experiment, an ambitious attempt to trigger artificial rain to clear the city’s toxic air, has failed to deliver results. Despite multiple trials, collaboration with IIT Kanpur, and the deployment of aircraft, not a single significant spell of rain was recorded across the capital. The project, which cost over ₹1.9 crore, has sparked debate about whether such technological interventions are truly effective in tackling Delhi’s chronic pollution problem.
Artificial Rain: A Bold Plan to Tame the Smog
The Delhi government launched the project in partnership with IIT Kanpur, hoping that artificial rain could help wash away the dense layers of pollutants choking the city. The plan involved using aircraft to spray chemicals primarily silver iodide and sodium chloride into cloud formations above Delhi and nearby areas like Noida, Burari, and Mayur Vihar.
These chemicals were meant to act as “nuclei” for moisture condensation, encouraging clouds to form raindrops. If successful, the rainfall would have settled dust particles and improved air quality across the National Capital Region.
The Science Behind the Artificial Rain
Despite three separate sorties between October 23 and October 28, the skies over Delhi remained dry. Only trace rainfall about 0.1 to 0.2 millimetres, was reported in some parts of Noida and Greater Noida. The main culprit, experts said, was low atmospheric moisture.
For cloud seeding to work, clouds need at least 50–60% humidity, but during Delhi’s dry winter, humidity levels were just 10–20%. In essence, there wasn’t enough water vapour in the air for artificial rain to form. IIT Kanpur’s director, Dr. Manindra Agrawal, later admitted that while the attempt followed sound scientific methods, “the weather simply didn’t cooperate.”
The Cost of Chasing Clouds
The failed experiment came at a hefty cost. The three trial flights alone cost around ₹1.9 crore, and experts estimate that scaling the project for the entire winter season could have required ₹25–30 crore. For a city already struggling with limited funds to combat pollution, the price tag has raised concerns about priorities and planning.
Environmental experts argue that cloud seeding is, at best, a short-term fix and one that depends heavily on luck and weather conditions. Spending crores on a technique with uncertain results, they say, diverts attention from long-term, proven pollution control measures.
While the cloud seeding effort failed to bring rain, it wasn’t entirely fruitless. The operation gave scientists and government officials valuable experience in planning and executing such missions. The data gathered could help improve future attempts, particularly if they are conducted during monsoon or pre-monsoon months, when moisture levels are naturally higher.
Experts also note that cloud seeding has worked in other countries but under very specific conditions. The key takeaway for Delhi is that timing, moisture, and cloud density matter far more than enthusiasm or investment.
Tackling the Root Cause
Delhi’s air pollution crisis cannot be solved by quick technological fixes alone. Artificial rain may provide temporary relief, but it does not address the real sources of pollution such as vehicle emissions, stubble burning, industrial output, and construction dust.
Experts suggest that a more sustainable strategy would focus on reducing emissions at their source, improving public transport, and enforcing stricter pollution-control laws. Long-term policies, not weather-dependent experiments, are what will make Delhi’s air cleaner and healthier.
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