Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has written to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, urging for an urgent meeting to discuss the use of artificial rain as Diwali approaches.
With pollution levels in the capital expected to rise significantly at the beginning of November, Rai has emphasised the need for immediate action. The minister highlighted a delay of about a month in cloud-seeding efforts, which the Delhi government views as a possible emergency measure to reduce pollution.
In his letter dated October 10, Gopal Rai stressed that artificial rain could be used as a critical tool to combat the worsening air quality. The Delhi government, in collaboration with institutions like IIT Kanpur, has already explored the option of cloud seeding and presented its findings to the Union Ministry of Environment.
According to Rai, the delay in implementing cloud seeding can be attributed to the requirement for several clearances from different government agencies, which is necessary to proceed with this project.
The letter reiterated that the air quality in Delhi turns hazardous each year, particularly following Diwali, and urgent steps are needed to prevent a significant public health crisis.
Rai had earlier raised this issue in a letter dated August 30, in which he also called for an emergency meeting with relevant stakeholders to coordinate efforts for the implementation of cloud seeding.
The government of Delhi believes that cloud seeding can offer immediate relief by inducing rain and helping to clear the heavy pollution that builds up after Diwali.
Cloud seeding involves dispersing substances into the air to encourage rainfall, and it has been used in various parts of the world to combat drought and control pollution.
However, in Delhi’s case, the approval process to implement it requires collaboration between different agencies, including those responsible for issuing no-objection certificates (NOCs). Rai’s letter pressed for the involvement of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and other relevant agencies to expedite these processes.
Rai also pointed out that the Government of Delhi had previously considered using cloud seeding during periods of hazardous air quality in 2023. A detailed presentation, prepared by IIT Kanpur, laid out the technical and logistical aspects of implementing cloud seeding in Delhi. This presentation was submitted to the Union Environment Ministry earlier this year, yet progress on obtaining the necessary approvals has stalled.
On October 9, Rai held a meeting with government and private construction agencies to address another significant pollution issue: dust. The Delhi government launched its anti-dust campaign on October 7 as part of its broader winter action plan aimed at reducing pollution levels in the capital.
During the meeting, it was observed that many agencies were not complying with the regulations to reduce dust pollution, and several were penalised. The government has taken strict steps to enforce the anti-dust campaign, targeting construction sites where dust pollution contributes significantly to the city's poor air quality.
The meeting also focused on training representatives from both government and private construction agencies on the best practices for curbing dust. The agencies were provided with toolkits and instructions to train their workers on site. Rai noted that some agencies had made remarkable progress in reducing dust pollution and were recognized with awards for their efforts.
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