In a bid to combat persistent air pollution in the capital, the Delhi Cabinet has greenlit a cloud-seeding project, with five trial operations scheduled under the supervision of IIT-Kanpur.
The initiative, aimed at improving air quality during peak pollution periods, was approved on Wednesday and announced by Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
The total budget for the project stands at ₹3.21 crore, comprising ₹2.75 crore allocated for the five trials - each costing ₹55 lakh - and an additional ₹66 lakh earmarked for equipment calibration, logistics, and preparatory work. The trials will be executed as part of Delhi’s wider strategy to reduce pollution and manage environmental challenges more effectively.
Minister Sirsa described the move as a significant addition to the government’s ongoing environmental efforts, which already include AI-powered air quality monitoring and constant surveillance of pollution hotspots. He emphasised that cloud seeding could serve as an emergency tool during periods of severe pollution.
IIT-Kanpur will handle all aspects of the operation - from planning and aircraft deployment to chemical dispersion and management. Funds will be directly disbursed by the Delhi government to the institute for execution. If approvals are secured on time, the first cloud-seeding trial is expected to take place by late May or in June.
The initial phase will target a 100-square-kilometre area on Delhi’s outskirts. A scientific assessment will follow to gauge the success and environmental impact of the cloud-seeding technique, which involves dispersing specific substances into clouds to stimulate rainfall - thereby helping reduce airborne pollutants.
To move forward, the Delhi government is working to obtain no-objection certificates from 13 agencies, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the defence, home, and environment ministries, and the Airports Authority of India.