Today's Edition
NEW DELHI (DPA)
Authorities in the Indian capital carried out cloud seeding trials on Tuesday to try to induce rain over the smoggy city, but chances may be slim given the low moisture content in the atmosphere.
Seasonal crop stubble burning by farmers, emissions from heavy traffic, industry, and burning of fuel, along with climatic factors like low wind speed and cooler temperatures lead to a spike in air pollution in the city every October and November.
Guided by scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the northern state of Kanpur, a Cessna aircraft flew over designated areas dropping chemicals into the clouds to induce rain, Delhi's Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.
Cloud seeding involves artificially generating rainfall by introducing chemicals in moisture-laden clouds to stimulate precipitation. The Cessna aircraft dropped silver iodide and salt particles, Sirsa said.
Trials to test whether rain could be induced will continue until Thursday. Sirsa said the moisture content of the clouds currently was only 15% to 20%, but if results were successful, regular rain seeding plans would be drawn up.
While he said the scientists at IIT Kanpur believe there could be rain between 15 minutes to four hours after the operation, other experts have said that cloud seeding cannot create rain without moisture-laden clouds and that the technique provides temporary relief at best.
Home to more than 20 million people, New Delhi has banned the use of diesel generators, controlled the movement of diesel vehicles, deployed water sprinklers and smog guns and incentivised farmers not to burn crop stubble in efforts to
control pollution.
