Delhi's Cloud Seeding Experiment Fails to Bring Artificial Rain

Strategic Insights -

The Delhi government's attempt to induce artificial rain in the city through cloud seeding has remained unsuccessful, despite incurring a cost of over Rs.1 crore in two trials conducted on Tuesday. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government had approved the cloud seeding project in May, allocating Rs.3.21 crore for five trials, with each attempt costing approximately Rs.64 lakh. The experiment, which was aimed at bringing down air pollution levels, was carried out in partnership with IIT Kanpur.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Delhi government spent over Rs.1 crore on two cloud seeding trials, which failed to produce rain, despite the initial cost being allocated for five trials.
  • The trials were conducted using a Cessna aircraft, which fired 16 flares containing silver iodide and sodium chloride compounds over various areas in Delhi.
  • The Delhi Cabinet approved the cloud seeding project on May 7, allocating Rs.3.21 crore for five trials, with each attempt costing approximately Rs.64 lakh.
  • The experiments were carried out in partnership with IIT Kanpur, which predicted that rain could occur within 15 minutes to four hours after the exercise.
  • The IMD data shows that there was no rainfall recorded in Delhi till late evening.
  • The Delhi government has planned to conduct nine to 10 more trials over the next few days, with the focus being on areas falling under the north direction.
  • A Delhi government report on the cloud seeding trials stated that the moisture content predicted by IMD was low, at around 10-15 per cent, which is not ideal for cloud seeding.
  • The cloud seeding initiative seems to be another flashpoint in Delhi's politics, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) questioning the BJP-led government's decision to conduct trials on a day when the IMD had already forecast rain.

Statistics:

  • The cumulative cost of the two trials conducted on Tuesday was Rs.1.28 crore.
  • The Delhi Cabinet allocated Rs.3.21 crore for five trials, with each attempt costing approximately Rs.64 lakh.
  • The Cessna aircraft fired 16 flares in two cloud seeding trials.
  • The IMD data shows no rainfall recorded in Delhi till late evening.

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times