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NEW DELHI: The Delhi Cabinet, chaired by Hon’ble Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has granted approval to a proposal titled “Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR.” The project involves conducting five cloud-seeding experiments, with the objective of addressing the persistent challenges of air pollution and water scarcity that plague the national capital.
Hon’ble Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced that each of these cloud-seeding operations will cost ₹55 lakhs, bringing the total expenditure for five trials to ₹2.75 crore. In addition, a one-time infrastructure setup cost of ₹66 lakhs will be incurred. This will cover expenses such as aircraft calibration, chemical storage, operational logistics, and other essential preparations. The combined financial outlay for the entire initiative amounts to ₹3.21 crore.
The project will be executed by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), which will manage all aspects of planning, aircraft usage, chemical dispersion, scientific simulations, and operational coordination. The Delhi government will release the allocated funds directly to IIT Kanpur to carry out the initiative.
Subject to necessary approvals, the first cloud-seeding experiment is expected to take place between late May and June 2025. This initial trial will span approximately 100 square kilometres, primarily focusing on the outer regions of Delhi. A total of five such trials will be conducted during this initial phase. Once these trials conclude, scientific assessments will be conducted to evaluate both the effectiveness and environmental consequences of cloud seeding in reducing air pollution and enhancing rainfall in the NCR region.
Minister Sirsa briefed the Cabinet that prior to implementation, the government will secure mandatory No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from 13 regulatory and administrative bodies. These include the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Airports Authority of India, among others, to ensure all safety and compliance protocols are met.
“The Cabinet, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s leadership, has finalized and sanctioned the proposal. We are preparing to carry out these trials soon, positioning cloud seeding as a contingency measure during periods of extreme pollution,” said Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa. He further emphasized that this project is a part of a broader strategy, which also includes AI-powered air quality monitoring and continuous surveillance of pollution hotspots across the city.
He added, “Technology must serve as a crucial pillar in our campaign against toxic air. The Rekha Gupta administration is steadfast in its resolve to provide clean air to the citizens of Delhi, and this project is a bold, science-driven step in that direction.”
Cloud seeding is a scientifically developed weather modification method wherein substances such as silver iodide are dispersed into moisture-laden clouds to stimulate rainfall. For Delhi, this technique is being evaluated as a possible intervention to reduce airborne pollutants, particularly during times of intense smog and minimal rainfall.
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