Delhi's air quality has shown signs of improvement, moving into the 'poor' category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 293. This marks a noticeable recovery from the 'severe' levels experienced following Diwali. While certain areas still register 'very poor' to 'severe' air quality, other locations have seen improvements; for instance, Lodhi Road recorded a 'moderate' AQI of 198.
The Delhi government is preparing to implement cloud seeding between October 24th and 26th, with the possibility of the first artificial rain occurring on October 29th, depending on weather conditions, to further combat pollution. The government is awaiting approval from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to initiate the procedures. All technical and ground preparations have been completed, and the team and machinery are on standby. A successful trial flight has already been conducted. The cloud-seeding project is a collaborative effort between the Delhi government and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, with support from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique used to enhance precipitation by injecting substances like silver iodide, potassium iodide, or dry ice into clouds to serve as ice nuclei. By inducing rain, the process aims to wash away fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) that significantly contributes to Delhi's smog, especially during the winter months. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated that pilots have completed trial flights over the targeted areas and are awaiting the right cloud conditions and IMD approval to proceed.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has expressed that this initiative is not only a technological milestone but also a step towards establishing a scientific method to combat pollution in Delhi. The government's objective is to create a cleaner and more balanced environment in the capital through this innovation.
The announcement comes as Delhi grapples with persistently high pollution levels. On Thursday, the city's 24-hour average AQI was 305, with Anand Vihar recording a 'severe' level of 410, the highest among monitoring stations. Of the 38 monitoring locations, 23 reported 'very poor' air quality, and 14 fell into the 'poor' range. The Commission for Air Quality Management has already activated Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region to prevent further deterioration.
