Delhi Reinstates Cloud Seeding to Combat Pollution After 53 Years

Delhi resumed cloud seeding trials after 53 years to induce artificial rain and combat pollution. Despite the absence of actual rainfall, the trials marginally reduced particulate matter. The initiative, in partnership with IIT-Kanpur, faced criticism for being a temporary solution to the city's air quality issues.

After a hiatus of over half a century, Delhi took a meteorological leap by conducting cloud seeding trials on Tuesday. The initiative aims to induce artificial rain as a countermeasure to escalating pollution levels in the capital. Surprisingly, despite the attempts, the weather department didn't record any significant rainfall.

In a collaboration between the Delhi government and IIT-Kanpur, the trials extended across various city sectors like Burari, north Karol Bagh, Mayur Vihar, and Badli. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced further operations in the coming days, despite criticism labeling the measures as short-term.

While environmentalists argue the method fails to tackle the core pollution sources, Sirsa remained optimistic, proposing a long-term strategy contingent on the success of these trials. Meanwhile, both the BJP and AAP offered diverging views, adding a political angle to the scientific endeavor.

(With inputs from agencies.)