Air Pollution in Delhi: IIT Kanpur Brings “Artificial Rain” as Innovative Solution

As air pollution in Delhi and its neighboring regions continues to struggle with severe air quality conditions, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has come up with an innovative initiative to address the crisis. The institute introduces artificial rain through cloud seeding as a temporary solution to reduce pollution to some extent. This innovative approach aims to mitigate the high levels of pollutants and dust that have been enveloping the national capital.

IIT Kanpur’s dedicated team has been working on creating ideal conditions for artificial rain for over five years. Their efforts turned out to be successful in July. The researchers have also obtained essential permissions from regulatory bodies, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to proceed with cloud seeding.

However, the effectiveness of artificial ain is dependent on specific meteorological conditions that include the presence of moisture-laden clouds and favorable winds. While this method seems promising in the short term its efficiency during pre-winter months or at a larger scale remains uncertain.

Delhi's Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, has expressed the city government's intention to explore cloud seeding as part of its winter action plan to combat air pollution. Rai stated, "Experts from IIT-Kanpur also gave a presentation on how artificial rain can be produced. We have requested them to prepare a detailed presentation outlining various facets such as implementation and financial burden. The presentation will be placed before the CM, and we will further explore the possibility of implementing these measures."

As Delhi’s air quality has recently declined to the ‘severe plus’ category, stringent measures including stage IV of the graded response action plan, have been enforced. Only CNG, electric, and BS VI-complaint vehicles from other states are allowed to enter Delhi under these restrictions with exemptions granted solely to essential services, while medium and heavy goods vehicles are banned.

IIT Kanpur’s artificial rain solution offers hope to mitigate this crisis and fight against air pollution in Delhi and its neighboring regions.  While there are a number of challenges and uncertainties to overcoming the innovative approach this step represents a move forward in terms of addressing one of the most pressing environmental issues.