28 October,2025 04:18 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
An anti-smog gun being used to spray water droplets to curb air pollution in New Delhi on Tuesday. Pic/PTI
The Delhi Government, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kanpur, carried out the first cloud-seeding trial in parts of the national capital on Tuesday, with more such exercises planned over the coming days, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.
The aircraft took off from Kanpur for Delhi, covering areas such as Burari, north Karol Bagh, and Mayur Vihar, before landing at the Meerut Airfield, reported news agency PTI, quoting officials.
"The Cessna aircraft took off from Kanpur. It released eight fire flares and the trial lasted for half an hour," Sirsa said in a video statement.
The minister added that IIT-Kanpur has indicated that rainfall could occur within 15 minutes to four hours after the trial. He also mentioned that the second trial will take place later in the day in outer Delhi, with nine to 10 trials planned over the next few days.
"This is a huge step taken by the government to mitigate pollution. If trials are successful, we will prepare a long-term plan," Sirsa said.
The trial, aimed at inducing artificial rain to tackle air pollution in the capital, forms part of the Delhi Government's wider strategy to improve deteriorating air quality during the winter months.
The government had conducted a test flight over Burari last week, PTI reported.
During the test, small amounts of silver iodide and sodium chloride compounds, used to trigger artificial rain, were released from the aircraft. However, rainfall could not be induced due to low atmospheric moisture of less than 20 per cent, compared to the 50 per cent generally required for cloud seeding.
The Delhi Government had signed a memorandum of understanding with IIT-Kanpur on September 25 to carry out five cloud seeding trials, all planned in northwest parts of the national capital, reported PTI. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had earlier granted IIT-Kanpur permission to conduct the trials anytime between October 1 and November 30.
Clearances have also been obtained from more than 10 Central and state departments, including the Union ministries of environment, defence, and home, the Uttar Pradesh Government, the Airports Authority of India, and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, among others.
The Delhi Cabinet had approved a proposal on May 7 to conduct five cloud seeding trials at a total cost of Rs 3.21 crore. However, the exercise faced multiple postponements due to unfavourable weather and monsoon conditions, including deadlines set for the end of May, early June, August, September, and most recently, the second week of October.
(With PTI inputs)
