IIT Kanpur's Innovative Approach to Tackle Delhi's Air Pollution: Cloud Seeding for Artificial Rain

According to reports, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has created a viable solution to deal with the issue of air pollution in Delhi and the surrounding areas. They suggest using cloud seeding to create "artificial rains" in order to help remove dust and other pollutants from the atmosphere.

The Economic Times stated that the leading institute carried out successful trials in July and has been attempting to create the prerequisites for artificial rains for more than five years. According to the report, the researchers have received approval from government agencies, such as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to use cloud seeding.

However, certain meteorological circumstances, like the presence of clouds with sufficient moisture and appropriate winds, are necessary for the implementation of artificial rains. It is still early to tell if cloud seeding and artificial rainmaking can be implemented on a large scale or during the pre-winter months. 

To fly aircraft over the nation's capital that is in dire need of fresh air, it also requires a number of permissions, including those from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Special Protection Group, and the DGCA.

Gopal Rai, the environment minister for Delhi, announced in September that the city government was getting ready to try cloud seeding as part of its winter action plan to reduce air pollution.

Additionally, he said that specialists from IIT-Kanpur presented on creating artificial rain and were asked to put together a comprehensive presentation that covers all details, such as implementation and costs. Once the presentation is made to the CM, then there will be further discussion on the possibility of putting the measures into action. 

Artificial rains could provide residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) with temporary relief from poor air quality for up to a week, according to Manindra Agrawal, a professor at the computer science and engineering department of IIT Kanpur who led this project, as reported by Economic Times. 

Severe curbs under stage IV of the graded response action plan came into effect on Sunday, as Delhi's air quality entered the 'severe plus' category for the second time in three days.

Only cars that meet BS VI requirements, run on CNG, or are electric are permitted to enter Delhi under Stage IV of the GRAP. Only those engaged in essential services are eligible for exemptions. As per the latest order, all medium and heavy goods vehicles that are not involved in essential services are prohibited from operating in the capital.

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