New Delhi: A step has been taken in the direction of a historic initiative to tackle pollution in Delhi. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Thursday that preparations for the first-ever cloud seeding (artificial rain) in the capital have been completed. Its successful testing has also been carried out.
First Artificial Rain Likely on October 29
CM Rekha Gupta informed on X (formerly Twitter) that experts conducted a successful trial of cloud seeding in the Burari area. According to the weather department, sufficient cloud presence is likely in Delhi-NCR on October 28, 29, and 30. If the weather conditions remain favourable, Delhi could experience the first artificial rain on October 29.
A Technically and Scientifically Significant Step
She called it a technically and scientifically significant step in the history of Delhi. Rekha Gupta stated, “This initiative is not only historically technical, but is also going to establish a scientific way to deal with pollution in Delhi. The government’s objective is to make the capital’s air clean and the environment balanced through this innovation.”
Trial Flight Details and Pyro Technique Use
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said it was a trial seeding flight. According to the news agency ANI, Sirsa explained that a trial seeding flight was conducted from IIT Kanpur to Delhi (via Meerut, Khekra, Burari, Sadakpur, Bhojpur, Aligarh) and back to IIT Kanpur. Cloud seeding flares were fired between Khekra and Burari and over the Badli area using pyro techniques.
This was a test flight to check the capabilities of cloud seeding, aircraft preparation and capacity, cloud seeding fitting and the capacity of the flares, and coordination among all concerned agencies. The Chief Minister also congratulated the team involved in this project, stating that Cabinet colleague Manjinder Singh Sirsa and all related officials played an important role in making this effort a success.