Delhi air pollution: Delhi Govt plans to try spell of artificial rain on Nov 20-21 to tackle severe air quality
Delhi air pollution: Delhi is currently grappling with toxic smoke and air quality index still in ‘severe’ category. The national capital remained shrouded in a blanket of toxic smog, prompting doctors to raise concerns about the growing number of respiratory and eye ailments among children and the elderly.
In order to tackle air pollution, the Delhi government planned a spell of artificial rain in Delhi on November 20 and 21 to combat air pollution and to provide relief to residents of national capital from toxic smoke and severe air quality.
Earlier, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai and Finance Minister Atishi held a meeting with scientists from IIT-Kanpur to discuss the proposal on artificial rains.’
Environment Minister Rai said that if certain parameters related to cloud conditions are met on November 20-21, then a pilot project related to artificial rains can be executed.
If there is 40 per cent cloud coverage, then artificial rains can be made possible., Gopal Rai said.
Cloud seeding is the process of artificially generating rain by implanting clouds with particles such as silver iodide crystals. It uses planes to spray clouds with chemicals to condense smaller particles into larger rain droplets.
Notably, cloud seeding requires the presence of moisture-filled clouds, which are not always available or predictable.
Meanwhile, a delegation from CII and IIT Kanpur met with Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to discuss the possibility of artificial rains in the national capital.
Air pollution levels can be high during the winter months for a number of reasons, including dust and vehicular pollution, dry-cold weather, stubble burning, burning crop residues after the harvest season, and commuting.
Several residents and commuters in the national capital complained of breathing problems and urged the government and the authorities concerned to mobilise steps to curb the runaway air pollution at the earliest.
- With inputs from agencies
