Despite high hopes and a hefty budget, Delhi’s much-publicised cloud seeding experiment seems to have gone dry, quite literally. The capital witnessed little to no rainfall after three trial runs, leaving experts questioning whether this costly attempt was worth it at all.
राजधानी दिल्ली मेंकृत्रिम बारिश करवाने से कोई फायदा नहीं होने वाला है। ऐसा हम नहीं बल्कि विशेषज्ञों ने कहा है। विशेषज्ञों ने कहा है कि क्लाउड सीडिंग के बाद दिल्ली में कृत्रिम बारिश करवाना पैसे की बर्बादी है और कुछ नहीं। विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि अगर क्लाउड सीडिंग कराके बारिश करा भी दी जाए तो भी 2 से 3 दिन बार फिर से प्रदूषण बढ़ जाएगा और फिर से कृत्रिम बारिश करवाने की नौबत आ जाएगी। सबसे बड़ी परेशानी यह है कि इसमें एक ट्रायल पर 64 लाख रुपये खर्च होते हैं। अब तक 5 ट्रायल कराए जा चुके हैं। यानी कुल 3.20 करोड़ रुपये खर्च हो चुके हैं, जो कि बेकार ही हो गए। क्लाउड सीडिंग के बावजूद नहीं हुई बारिश सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की कार्यकारी निदेशक (शोध एवं वकालत) अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी ने कहा कि क्लाउड सीडिंग के बाद शहर में अभी तक कोई अच्छी बारिश दर्ज नहीं की गई है। अगर बारिश प्रदूषकों को बहा भी देती है, तो भी प्रदूषण जल्दी ही वापस लौट आएगा। इसका असर कुछ घंटों से लेकर कुछ दिनों तक रहता है। उन्होंने कहा कि इसे पूरे ठंड के मौसम के दौरान इसे नियमित रूप से नहीं किया जा सकता। इस तरह के निवेशों का लक्ष्य जमीनी स्रोतों से वास्तविक उत्सर्जन में कमी लाना होना चाहिए, ताकि जन स्वास्थ्य की रक्षा के लिए वायु गुणवत्ता में निरंतर सुधार लाया जा सके।
India Soil Health Crisis: राजस्थान के निमली में अनिल अग्रवाल एनवायरनमेंट ट्रेनिंग इंस्टीट्यूट (AAETI) में सस्टेनेबल फूड सिस्टम पर आयोजित राष्ट्रीय कॉन्क्लेव में सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) ने एक रिपोर्ट जारी की। यह रिपोर्ट सरकार के सॉइल हेल्थ कार्ड डेटा पर आधारित है। इसमें बताया गया है कि उर्वरकों का इस्तेमाल बढ़ने के बावजूद कैसे मिट्टी में पोषक तत्वों की कमी है। स्टडी में पाया गया कि मिट्टी के 64 प्रतिशत सैंपल में नाइट्रोजन कम था और 48.5 प्रतिशत में ऑर्गेनिक कार्बन की कमी थी। मिट्टी की उपजाऊ शक्ति और जलवायु परिवर्तन से लड़ने की क्षमता के ये दो मुख्य इंडिकेटर हैं। पौधों के विकास के लिए नाइट्रोजन आवश्यक तत्व है। नतीजों से पता चला कि भारत में फर्टिलाइजर के ज्यादा इस्तेमाल से मिट्टी की सेहत में सुधार नहीं हुआ है। उर्वरक डालने से मिट्टी में पोषक तत्व नहीं बढ़े डेटा से पता चलता है कि मिट्टी में नाइट्रोजन फर्टिलाइजर डालने से मिट्टी के नाइट्रोजन स्तर में कोई खास सुधार नहीं होता। इसी तरह, संपूर्ण फर्टिलाइजर (NPK) के इस्तेमाल से मिट्टी में ऑर्गेनिक कार्बन की मात्रा में कोई बढ़ोतरी नहीं होती है। स्टडी में चेतावनी दी गई है कि इस कमी से लंबे समय में उत्पादकता और मिट्टी की कार्बन स्टोर करने की क्षमता को खतरा है। जलवायु परिवर्तन के प्रभाव को कम करने के लिए ये गुण जरूरी हैं। स्टडी में कहा गया है, "स्वस्थ मिट्टी का एक जरूरी काम ऑर्गेनिक कार्बन स्टोर करने की उसकी क्षमता है। यह गुण जलवायु परिवर्तन के असर को कम करने के लिए जरूरी है। भारत की मिट्टी हर साल लगभग 6-7 टेराग्राम कार्बन जमा कर सकती है।" "सस्टेनेबल फूड सिस्टम्स: एजेंडा फॉर क्लाइमेट-रिस्क्ड टाइम्स" शीर्षक वाली यह रिपोर्ट CSE ने राजस्थान के निमली में अनिल अग्रवाल एनवायरनमेंट ट्रेनिंग इंस्टीट्यूट (AAETI) में सस्टेनेबल फूड सिस्टम पर आयोजित राष्ट्रीय कॉन्क्लेव में जारी की।
कृत्रिम बारिश करवाकर लोगों को स्मॉग से राहत दिलवाने के लिए राजधानी में अब तक क्लाउड सीडिंग के तीन ट्रायल हो चुके हैं। इनमें दो ट्रायल मंगलवार को हुए। हालांकि तीनों ट्रायल रन में उम्मीद मुताबिक बारिश देखने को नहीं मिली। एक्सपर्ट इस प्रकिया को लेकर बहुत उत्साहित नहीं हैं। उनका कहना है कि नतीजों के हिसाब से यह एक बहुत महंगी प्रक्रिया है। इसकी राहत कुछ समय के लिए रहती है। वहीं, सर्दियों में इसके नतीजे अस्पष्ट हैं। इसकी बारिश हुई तो भी वह कम ही रहेगी। कम बारिश में स्मॉग से राहत मिलने की संभावना काफी कम रहेगी। कम बारिश में स्मॉग से राहत मिलने की संभावना काफी कम मौसम विभाग के पूर्व डीजी केजे रमेश ने बताया कि कृत्रिम बारिश के लिए प्राकृतिक बादल का होना जरूरी है। इसके बिना बारिश नहीं हो सकती। राजधानी में सर्दियों में बादल कम होते है। अब तक रिसर्च में कृत्रिम बारिश का पानी नुकसानदेह नहीं है। पानी में सिल्वर आयोडाइड मिला होता है। इसका सीमित मात्रा में इस्तेमाल सेहत पर खराब असर नहीं करता। कृत्रिम बारिश में बढ़ते हुए बादलों को रोककर बारिश करवाई जा सकती है। वहीं, इससे इसके बाद के क्षेत्र में बारिश कम होगी। हालांकि यह फ्रीक्वेंट नहीं है। मंगलवार को क्लाउड सीडिंग की गई दो बार उन्होंने बताया कि इस बारिश से प्रदूषक तत्व नीचे तो आ सकते है, लेकिन इसकी अपनी सीमाएं है। यह कुछ ही इलाकों में की जा सकती है। वहीं, प्रदूषण में थोड़ी कमी आएगी। बाकि जगहों पर स्थिति नहीं बदलेगी। जहां यह बारिश होगी, वहां भी इसका असर सीमित समय के लिए होगा। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) की एग्जीक्यूटिव डायरेक्टर अनुमिता रायचौधरी ने बताया कि मंगलवार को क्लाउड सीडिंग की प्रक्रिया दो बार की गई, लेकिन शाम 8 बजे तक बारिश नहीं हुई। अब सवाल यह उठता है कि अगर बारिश हो भी जाती है तो उससे प्रदूषण में कितनी राहत मिलेगी। इतनी महंगी प्रक्रिया कर अगर चंद घंटों के लिए प्रदूषण एक छोटे एरिया से घुल जाता है तो कुछ घंटों में वह वापस आएगा और लोगों की सेहत पर और बुरा असर डालेगा। प्रदूषण को कम करने के लिए प्रदूषण के कारणों को कम करने की जरूरत है। प्रदूषण के सोर्स पर काम करने की जरूरत आईफॉरेस्ट के फाउंडर और सीईओ डॉ. चंद्रभूषण ने बताया कि कई देशों में क्लाउड सीडिंग की प्रक्रिया हुई है। चीन, पाकिस्तान, दुबई सभी जगह इसे किया गया। हर जगह नतीजे बहुत अच्छे नहीं रहे। दो साल पहले पाकिस्तान में भी इसे करवाया गया। हल्की फुल्की बारिश हुई और चंद घंटों में स्मॉग आ गया। एक्सपेरिमेंट के लिहाज से इसे एक आद बार किया जा सकता है, लेकिन यह स्थाई समाधान नहीं है। प्रदूषण के सोर्स पर काम करने की जरूरत है। 'दूसरे तरीके खोजने की जरूरत है' एनवायरोकेटालिस्ट के फाउंडर और सीईओ सुनील दहिया ने बताया कि एयर क्वॉलिटी को ठीक करने के लिए ट्रांसपोर्ट, पावर कचरे और कंस्ट्रक्शन से होने वाले सेक्टर-स्पेसिफिक एमिशन से निपटना होगा। इसके बिना कोई और कदम जैसे क्लाउड सीडिंग, स्मॉग टावर, एंटी-स्मॉग गन जैसे कॉस्मेटिक उपाय काम नहीं करेंगे। यह कॉस्मेटिक उपाय कुछ समय के लिए विजिबिलिटी के फायदे दे सकते हैं, लेकिन इसे सस्टेनेबल सॉल्युशन नहीं कहा जा सकता। इस तरीकों के बजाय, राज्यों और एजेंसियों के बीच मिलकर काम करने पर ध्यान देना चाहिए। प्रदूषण को कम करने के लिए एयरशेड-बेस्ड तरीका अपनाया जाए और प्रदूषण के असली सोर्स को टारगेट किया जाए।
In a pioneering step against choking winter smog, the Delhi government on Wednesday confirmed that its first artificial rain operation succeeded in triggering light showers across parts of south and central Delhi, leading to a marginal dip in pollution levels. The project, jointly undertaken by IIT-Kanpur scientists and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), used two aircraft fitted with silver iodide burners to seed existing clouds. The result: mild drizzle lasting 25 minutes, bringing AQI levels down from 398 to 362 — still ‘poor’, but an improvement. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called it “a breakthrough toward making Delhi’s air breathable again.” He added that two more sorties are planned between October 30 and November 2, depending on humidity and wind conditions. Challenges Ahead Experts caution that cloud-seeding cannot work without adequate moisture. Environmentalist Sunita Narain remarked that structural changes — cleaner fuels, waste management, and curbing vehicle emissions — remain essential. What Comes Next Delhi’s AQI this week averaged 372, far above WHO limits. The Centre for Air Quality Monitoring plans to publish a comparative study after the next round of experiments.
: Experts have termed Delhi govt's cloud seeding trials, held on Tuesday, a "hugely expensive, temporary and unsustainable" measure to deal with the capital's toxic pollution. Even if the artificial rain temporarily settles down the pollutants, the pollution will rise in one-two days, they say. According to the MoU signed between the Delhi environment department and IIT-Kanpur, the budget for cloud seeding is over Rs 3.2 crore for five trials — meaning one trial run costs Rs 64 lakh. Three trials have been done in north Delhi, and none of them led to any major rain. Delhi's air quality index (AQI) has been hovering in the ‘very poor' to ‘poor' range for the past few days. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "The city has not yet recorded any substantial rainfall after cloud seeding. Even if the rains wash out the pollutants, the pollution will bounce back quickly. The impact lasts from hours to a couple of days."
New Delhi: India’s soils are increasingly deficient in essential nutrients, threatening the foundation of sustainable agriculture, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The Delhi-based think tank’s report, released on Tuesday, draws on the government’s Soil Health Card (SHC) data and points to alarming gaps in soil fertility and carbon storage capacity. The study found that 64 per cent of soil samples across the country were low in nitrogen, while 48.5 per cent showed deficiencies in organic carbon—two crucial indicators of soil productivity and resilience. Despite years of heavy fertiliser use, these inputs have not improved soil quality. “Data indicates that applying nitrogen-based fertilisers to the soil does not lead to any corresponding improvement in soil nitrogen levels,” the report stated. It also noted that there was “no improvement in soil organic carbon due to use of total (NPK) fertiliser.”
The report finds severe nutrient deficiencies in Indian soils based on the Soil Health Card Scheme data. Key Findings Soil nutrient deficiencies: Nitrogen: 64% of samples tested 'low' for Nitrogen (N). Organic Carbon (SOC) Deficit: 48.5% of samples tested 'low' for SOC, a crucial indicator for soil structure and microbial abundance. Over 43% of districts at 'very high' climate risk also showed low SOC levels. Micronutrient Shortages: 55.4% of samples tested 'low' for Boron, and 35% for Zinc. High Urea Consumption: Fertilizer consumption is heavily skewed towards urea, which is about 68 per cent of total fertilizer consumption in 2023-24. Implications of soil nutrient deficiencies Threat to crop productivity, food security, farmer’s income and sustainable agriculture. Reduced capacity for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Recommendations Expand Current Soil Monitoring under SHC to include physical (texture, compaction) and biological (microbial activity) indicators. Reform fertiliser subsidy policy to incentivise balanced and efficient use. Use biochar to improve fertility, moisture retention, and carbon storage. Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme, 2015 Implemented by: Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Purpose: To assess soil fertility and provide nutrient-based recommendations to farmers. Measures 12 Chemical Indicators: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur (Macronutrients); Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Boron (Micronutrients) ; and pH, Electrical Conductivity and Organic Carbon. Soil Health Card scheme has been merged in Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Cafeteria scheme as one of its components under ‘Soil Health & Fertility’ from the year 2022-23.
New Delhi: Despite high hopes and a hefty budget, Delhi government's much-publicised cloud-seeding experiment has failed to bring significant rainfall, leaving experts questioning the efficacy of the initiative. The Delhi government’s cloud seeding trials, conducted on Tuesday, have been described as a “hugely expensive, temporary and unsustainable” measure to tackle the capital’s toxic pollution, according to experts cited by the Times of India. Even if artificial rain briefly reduces pollutants, they warn, pollution levels rebound within a day or two. Under a memorandum of understanding between the Delhi environment department and IIT-Kanpur, over Rs 3.2 crore has been allocated for five cloud-seeding trials — roughly Rs 64 lakh per trial. Three trials conducted in north Delhi failed to produce any major rainfall. Meanwhile, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has continued to hover in the ‘very poor’ to ‘poor’ range. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment, noted that substantial rainfall has yet to be recorded after cloud seeding. “Even if the rains wash out the pollutants, the pollution will bounce back quickly. The impact lasts from hours to a couple of days,” TOI quoted her as saying. Roychowdhury added that the initiative is not sustainable and cannot be repeated throughout the winter. She emphasised that investments should focus on reducing emissions at the source for long-term improvements in air quality and public health. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst of the think tank EnviroCatalysts, said that improving air quality requires tackling sector-specific emissions from transport, power, and construction. He added that no real impact can be achieved without addressing these sources. "Cosmetic measures may create short-term visibility benefits but are not sustainable solutions. The focus should instead be on coordinated action across states and agencies through an airshed-based approach that targets the actual sources of pollution," TOI quoted him as saying. Environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari pointed out that Delhi’s atmosphere already had enough moisture due to a western disturbance, which naturally brings rain. “Under such circumstances, cloud seeding adds little scientific value; it becomes a costly experiment chasing what nature is already prepared to deliver. Clean air will not come from artificial rain, but from sustained reductions in emissions, dust control, and responsible policy," Kandhari added. While cloud seeding may seem futuristic, experts stress that Delhi’s true challenge is on the ground, not in the sky. With increasing construction dust, vehicle emissions, and industrial pollution, the city’s air quality cannot be improved through one-off measures. Sustainable progress, they say, depends on strict enforcement of pollution control norms, coordinated regional action, and long-term policy initiatives. facebook sharing buttontwitter sharing buttonwhatsapp sharing buttonlinkedin sharing buttonemail sharing buttonprint sharing button
Despite spending nearly Rs 1.9 crore and carrying out three rounds of cloud seeding to trigger artificial rain, Delhi’s skies remained stubbornly dry on Tuesday, offering little respite from toxic air. The Delhi government, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, conducted two cloud seeding trials throughout the day on Tuesday, hoping to induce rainfall and curb the worsening pollution levels. However, officials later confirmed that no rainfall occurred due to insufficient cloud moisture. IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal explained that the moisture content in the clouds was far below the required level for successful seeding. “We did not get a lot of cloud moisture. Given the low moisture content (around 15%) the possibility of rain was very low. So, we did not achieve success from that perspective,” Agrawal said. While the absence of rain was disappointing, Agrawal noted that the experiment yielded valuable data for future operations. “Data shows a reduction of 6-10% in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. This indicates that even with low moisture, seeding can still have some impact. It’s useful data for planning future trials,” he said. The two more sorties which were scheduled for today have been cancelled, according to IIT Kanpur. Meanwhile, experts have raised concerns about the temporary nature of such measures. “If you are trying to do artificial rain, the rebound effect is going to be very quick. Global evidence suggests pollution can return within hours or a couple of days,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). She emphasised the need for long-term solutions. “What we really require is massive energy transition, zero-emission vehicles, electrification of industrial processes, and access to clean energy across all sectors,” she said. As per the MoU between the Delhi Environment Department and IIT Kanpur, the total budget for cloud seeding is ₹3.2 crore for five trials, with each trial costing around ₹64 lakh. Despite these efforts, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ to ‘poor’ category on Wednesday morning.
Delhi’s ambitious cloud-seeding trials have failed to yield the desired results, with the experiment unable to induce artificial rain in the national capital amid worsening air pollution. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that no rainfall was recorded following the exercise. The Delhi government, in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur, conducted the trials across several locations, including Burari, north Karol Bagh, Mayur Vihar, and Badli. The total budget for cloud seeding stands at over ₹3.2 crore for five trials — meaning each trial costs around ₹64 lakh. Three trials have been completed so far, all without success in inducing rainfall. Officials said the moisture content predicted by the IMD and other agencies remained low, at around 10–15%, far below the threshold required for cloud seeding. October 28 was overcast and cloudy, but humidity in the clouds remained inadequate. A minimum of 50–60% humidity is generally needed for the process, according to studies. “The moisture content (of clouds) remained low at 10–15%, which is not an ideal condition for cloud seeding,” an IIT-Kanpur report stated. Cloud seeding relies heavily on meteorological conditions such as wind speed and the presence of rain-bearing clouds — both of which are usually absent during Delhi’s dry winter months. “There hasn’t been any rain so far. So, in that sense, it was not completely successful. But, unfortunately, the clouds that are present today do not have very high moisture content. I am told it was only up to 15–20%. So, the possibility of causing rain with such low moisture content is not very high. But this trial has given more confidence to our team that we can continue conducting them,” IIT-Kanpur Director Manindra Agarwal told NDTV. The Delhi government, however, defended the exercise, saying it had contributed to a reduction in particulate matter (PM) levels in trial areas despite unfavourable weather. “Before cloud seeding, the PM 2.5 level was 221, 230, and 229 in Mayur Vihar, Karol Bagh, and Burari, respectively, which reduced to 207, 206, and 203, respectively, after the first seeding. Similarly, PM 10 level was 207, 206, 209, which got reduced to 177, 163, 177 at Mayur Vihar, Karol Bagh, and Burari, respectively,” the report said. Experts have called the experiment a short-term measure, noting that while it may temporarily reduce pollution, it does little to address the root causes of Delhi’s deteriorating air quality. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) at the Centre for Science and Environment, told TOI: “The city has not yet recorded any substantial rainfall after cloud seeding. Even if the rains wash out the pollutants, the pollution will bounce back quickly. The impact lasts from hours to a couple of days.” She added that a lasting improvement in air quality requires targeting actual emission reductions from ground-level sources.
Farmers, producers of the food we eat, are the first victims of climate change as their crops are lost to floods, droughts, pest attacks and unseasonal cold and heat. This comes even as agriculture and livestock remain among the main sources of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Experts say it calls for a need to rethink the current paradigm of agriculture, as at its core lies food—essential for survival—nutrition and livelihood. The big question, therefore, is how to make food systems sustainable while ensuring that farm livelihoods, nutrition and the environment are not compromised. This is even more critical because the prevailing agricultural system neither protects farmers from climate risks nor provides the nutrition and health benefits that food should. “While we discuss a lot about the contribution of fossil fuels to emissions and climate change, we do not talk enough about the other elephant in the room: agriculture and the food we eat,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Narain expressed the thoughts at the National Conclave on Sustainable Food Systems, held in Nimli, Alwar, from October 27 to 29. The event also saw the launch of the report ‘Sustainable Food Systems: An Agenda for Climate-Risked Times’.
Delhi's ambitious cloud seeding project is facing mounting criticism from environmental experts who have labelled the technique a "hugely expensive, temporary and unsustainable" measure to combat the capital's toxic pollution, even as scientists behind the initiative report curious marginal improvements in air quality. Reports show that Delhi's recent cloud-seeding trials failed to produce significant rainfall because of unsuitable atmospheric conditions, leading experts to express skepticism about its use as an effective solution to the city's winter pollution crisis. Cloud seeding cannot create clouds and requires specific meteorological factors to be present to work. The scientific endeavour, executed by IIT Kanpur, has conducted three trials to date, one on October 23 and two on October 28, with none producing significant rainfall in the capital.The latest attempts involved two aircraft sorties dispersing a tested mixture of flares over areas including Khekra, Burari and Mayur Vihar. Despite these efforts, the city saw no measurable rainfall. IIT Kanpur stated that neighbouring areas received only trace amounts - 0.1 mm in Noida and 0.2 mm in Greater Noida - data it attributed to a private weather application.Authorities identified a key culprit for the lack of rain: insufficient moisture. An IIT Kanpur statement confirmed that humidity levels within the targeted clouds ranged from a mere 10% to 20%, far below the ideal conditions required for successful seeding. Criticism is also mounting in the wake of the fact that cost per sortie is exorbitant and not commensurate with desired results.The project's substantial cost is now under intense scrutiny. According to the MoU between the Delhi environment department and IIT Kanpur, the budget for cloud seeding is over Rs 3.2 crore for five trials, translating to approximately Rs 64 lakh per sortie. With Delhi's air quality index (AQI) continuing to hover in the 'very poor' to 'poor' range, experts are questioning the value of this temporary intervention. Experts are skeptical about the success of the trial or similar actions in future noting that there are several reasons why intended results may not be achieved. Contending seeding cannot be done on all clouds and that the intensity of pollution is so big to mitigate the impact in a big way , while questioning science behind winter cloud seeding in general. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment, state in a section of media that even if rain were to wash out pollutants, the impact would be fleeting. "The pollution will bounce back quickly. The impact lasts from hours to a couple of days," she said, stressing that the initiative cannot be done regularly for the entire winter season and that investments should instead target actual emission reduction from ground sources.Some experts also argued that conducting cloud seeding during such natural weather phenomena would be pointless. He also raised concerns about potential liability if damaging rain coincided with seeding operations.The biggest pollution paradox remains that there is marginal drop in AQI levels amid failed rains
Delhi’s cloud seeding experiment seen as a desperate bid to wash away the national capital’s smog has drawn sharp criticism from environmental experts, who have dismissed it as a “hugely expensive, temporary, and unsustainable” measure that offers no lasting relief. According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Delhi Environment Department and IIT-Kanpur, the project carries a budget of Rs 3.2 crore for five trials, each trial costing nearly Rs 64 lakh. Of the three trials conducted so far in north Delhi, none have produced significant rainfall. Meanwhile, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) continues to remain in the ‘very poor’ to ‘poor’ range. Experts decode why Delhi’s Rs 3.2 crore experiment fell flat Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director (Research and Advocacy) at the Centre for Science and Environment, said, “The city has not yet recorded any substantial rainfall after cloud seeding. Even if the rains wash out the pollutants, the pollution will bounce back quickly. The impact lasts from hours to a couple of days.” Labeling the initiative as unsustainable, she added, “It cannot be done regularly for the entire winter season. Such investments need to target actual emission reduction from sources on the ground for sustained air quality improvement to protect public health.” Experts argue that the very foundation of the project is flawed due to Delhi’s dry winter conditions. Dr. Shahzad Gani, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, IIT Delhi, explained that natural rainfall in winter is rare unless influenced by a western disturbance. “If it rains due to a western disturbance, there is no point in carrying out cloud seeding. And if an intense spell of rain occurs simultaneously during the cloud seeding process, causing very heavy rain and damage to life and property — even if it is actually unrelated to cloud seeding — who will take responsibility for it?” He further questioned the government’s fascination with quick-fix technologies. “Why do we adopt silver-bullet technologies like smog towers, smog guns, and cloud seeding? There is a need to systematically reduce emissions from different sources.” Echoing similar concerns, Sunil Dahiya, Founder and Lead Analyst at EnviroCatalysts, said that unless Delhi tackles emissions from transport, power, and construction sectors, no meaningful improvement is possible. “Cosmetic measures may create short-term visibility benefits but are not sustainable solutions. The focus should instead be on coordinated action across states and agencies through an airshed-based approach that targets the actual sources of pollution,” he said. Environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari also questioned the timing of the experiment. She pointed out that cloud seeding only works when the atmosphere is moisture-deficient and precipitation conditions are marginal. “The skies were already rich with moisture, and a western disturbance was forecast to bring natural rain. Under such circumstances, cloud seeding adds little scientific value; it becomes a costly experiment chasing what nature is already prepared to deliver. Clean air will not come from artificial rain, but from sustained reductions in emissions, dust control, and responsible policy,” said Kandhari.
दिल्ली सरकार द्वारा प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए किए गए क्लाउड सीडिंग ट्रायल्स पर अब सवाल उठने लगे हैं. मंगलवार को हुए प्रयोग के बाद पर्यावरण विशेषज्ञों ने इसे 'बेहद महंगा, अस्थायी और अस्थिर उपाय' बताया है. उनका कहना है कि कृत्रिम बारिश से कुछ समय के लिए धूल और प्रदूषित कण नीचे बैठ जाते हैं, लेकिन एक या दो दिन में हवा फिर जहरीली हो जाती है. दिल्ली सरकार और आईआईटी कानपुर के बीच हुए एमओयू के अनुसार, पांच ट्रायल्स के लिए करीब 3.2 करोड़ रुपये का बजट तय किया गया है. यानी एक ट्रायल पर लगभग 64 लाख रुपये की लागत. अब तक उत्तर दिल्ली में तीन ट्रायल्स किए गए हैं, लेकिन किसी से भी बड़ी बारिश नहीं हुई. राजधानी का एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स (AQI) बीते कुछ दिनों से 'बहुत खराब' से 'खराब' श्रेणी में बना हुआ है. 'बारिश से प्रदूषण घटता जरूर है, लेकिन असर कुछ घंटों का'- CSE सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की कार्यकारी निदेशक (रिसर्च एंड एडवोकेसी) अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी ने कहा कि शहर में क्लाउड सीडिंग के बाद कोई ठोस बारिश दर्ज नहीं हुई. अगर बारिश होती भी है और प्रदूषण कुछ समय के लिए घटता है, तो यह असर कुछ घंटों या दो दिनों से ज्यादा नहीं रहता.” उन्होंने कहा कि ऐसे निवेशों का उद्देश्य जमीनी स्तर पर उत्सर्जन कम करना होना चाहिए, ताकि हवा की गुणवत्ता में स्थायी सुधार किया जा सके और जनस्वास्थ्य की रक्षा हो सके.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed that the initiative will proceed once visibility improves in Kanpur, where the designated aircraft is currently stationed. Weather to Decide the Fate of the Trial Manjinder Singh Sirsa explained that the flight operation is entirely dependent on weather clearance in Kanpur. "Regarding cloud seeding, as soon as the weather clears up in Kanpur, our aircraft will take off from there today. If it succeeds in taking off from there, cloud seeding will be done in Delhi today. Through that cloud seeding, there will be rainfall in Delhi," the minister said. He added, "Right now, the visibility in Kanpur is 2000 metres. Visibility of 5000 metres is being awaited there. Visibility is low in Delhi too. We hope that this will be possible by 12.30-1 pm. Then it will take off from there, do cloud seeding here and return." Understanding Cloud Seeding Technology Cloud seeding is a scientific method used to enhance rainfall by dispersing certain substances like silver iodide and dry ice into the clouds. These particles encourage condensation and precipitation, helping trigger artificial rain. The formula being used in Delhi's trial has been developed by IIT Kanpur and consists of silver iodide nanoparticles, iodised salt, and rock salt. This technique can be deployed through aircraft, rockets, or ground-based equipment. Why Delhi Is Turning to Artificial Rain Delhi continues to struggle with hazardous levels of air pollution. The government hopes that artificial rain will help temporarily reduce particulate matter and improve air quality. The city has consistently ranked as India's most polluted megacity, recording an average PM2.5 concentration of 175 micrograms per cubic metre during the 2024-25 winter season, as per the Centre for Science and Environment.