Delhi Govt. approves cloud seeding to reduce air pollution in the City

The  Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi’s  Cabinet has approved a proposal to conduct experimental cloud seeding to address the city's persistent air pollution.

The proposal, titled “Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi-NCR,” was approved on 7 May 2025 in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

The Project will be implemented in the city after obtaining the regulatory approval from 13 central government agencies, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Airports Authority of India.

China successfully used the cloud seeding technique before the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics to reduce air pollution and improve the air quality.

About the Cloud Seeding Proposal 

• The Delhi government will conduct five cloud seeding trials during the summer season after necessary clearance.
• The first trial is scheduled for late May/June 2025. It will cover around 100 square kilometer areas mainly in the outskirts of Delhi.
• The total project cost will be Rs 3.21 crore. Each trial will cost Rs 55 lakhs, and the one-time set-up cost will be Rs 66 lakhs.

Who will implement the Cloud Seeding Project? 

The Cloud seeding project will be handled by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi.

The Delhi government will provide the funds to IIT-Delhi for this project.

IIT Delhi will be responsible for the scientific modelling, chemical dispersal through aircraft, and project monitoring.

It will also collect scientific data and perform an analysis.

What is Cloud Seeding? 

Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique in which artificial nuclei are inserted into the clouds to induce precipitation (rain). The rain helps bring air pollutants to the surface and clean the air.

Depending upon the cloud—warm cloud or supercooled cloud—salt particles like sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and silver iodide (Agl) are present.

They act as nuclei on which the water vapour condenses to form water droplets, which fall to the surface as rain. 

Silver iodide is the most commonly used material.