Delhi Prepares for Artificial Rain Through Cloud Seeding to Tackle Pollution

New Delhi | October 15, 2025 Delhi may soon witness its first artificial rainfall as the city’s Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, announced on Wednesday that a designated area in the national capital is ready for a cloud seeding operation once approval is received from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The project, which could take place as early as the day after Diwali, aims to reduce the city’s rising air pollution levels and improve air quality during the winter season. Addressing the media, Sirsa confirmed that all logistical and technical preparations for the operation have been completed. “When the Meteorological Department gives us the green signal in the next 2–3 days, we will conduct a sample cloud seeding after blasting or spraying it. We are waiting for clouds to appear. The day after Diwali, or the following day, whenever the weather department grants permission, we will carry out the process. Once permission is received, we can take a plane and start operations within three hours. All required preparations are already complete,” he said. The minister further revealed that two trained pilots have been conducting trial runs over the selected area for the past four days to familiarize themselves with the terrain and equipment. “Both pilots conducted a trial over the designated area to understand the terrain and the aircraft. This training has been ongoing for the past four days and has been successful,” Sirsa noted, emphasizing that the team is now fully equipped to begin the mission as soon as conditions are favorable. This initiative follows an earlier announcement made by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who had revealed the government’s plan to introduce artificial rain through cloud seeding in collaboration with IIT Kanpur. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed between the Delhi government and IIT Kanpur to carry out the pilot project, which is being hailed as a historic step in the city’s ongoing battle against pollution. Delhi’s air quality continues to be one of the most severe environmental challenges facing the capital, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) often slipping into the “very poor” or “severe” categories, especially during the winter months. The dense smog that blankets the city each year has been linked to stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollutants, posing serious health risks to millions of residents. Cloud seeding—a weather modification technique that involves dispersing substances such as silver iodide or sodium chloride into clouds to encourage precipitation—has been experimented with in various parts of the world to improve air quality and increase rainfall. If successful, Delhi’s artificial rain project could serve as a model for other metropolitan areas grappling with similar pollution crises. While this ambitious effort is still awaiting IMD’s final clearance, authorities remain hopeful that the operation will provide much-needed relief from the capital’s worsening pollution levels. With preparations complete and the team on standby, Delhi could soon witness the first-ever instance of artificial rain created to cleanse its skies—a symbolic and practical step toward a cleaner, healthier future. Delhi Set for Artificial Rain to Combat Pollution Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has announced that the city is ready to conduct artificial rain through cloud seeding once the Meteorological Department grants approval. The operation, planned around Diwali, aims to reduce pollution and improve air quality. Two trained pilots have completed trial runs, and preparations are in place to begin within hours of receiving the green signal. The project, carried out in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, marks a major step in using science to fight Delhi’s persistent smog and create cleaner, clearer skies for residents across the capital.