Delhi vs. air pollution: Minister pushes for ‘artificial rains’ in city ahead of Diwali as AQI remains worse than ever

This monsoon, Delhi received 62% more rainfall than average, with Safdarjung, the city's main weather station, recording 1029.9mm compared to the LPA of 640.4mm. Normally, excess rains can reduce pollutant levels by washing away topsoil. However, the average PM2.5 concentration in Delhi and parts of the NCR was the highest during this period since 2021, as per an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

Considering Diwali — and winter — are just around the corner, Delhi's pollution levels are expected to skyrocket even further in November. Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, has called for urgent interventions, including artificial rain, to tackle the capital’s severe air quality issues. On Wednesday, Rai stated that he would again approach the Union environment minister, seeking an emergency meeting to discuss the implementation of artificial rain during peak pollution periods. This comes after his previous letter on the matter went unanswered.
For the unversed, creating artificial rain via ‘cloud seeding’ involves dispersing chemical compounds into the atmosphere to encourage moisture particles to condense and form rain. Scientists from IIT Kanpur, who successfully carried out an artificial rain experiment last year, estimate that creating a cloud cell over a 1-square-kilometre area could cost approximately Rs 1 lakh. They suggest that under favourable weather conditions, such as optimal wind and moisture levels, a cloud cell could be developed within a day.

Rai’s call for artificial rain is seen as a last resort to bring temporary relief from Delhi’s hazardous air quality. However, without a response from the central government, the city’s battle against pollution remains an uphill struggle.
However, apart from this initiative, Delhi has already launched its 21-point Winter Action Plan. This includes a 14-point anti-dust pollution campaign aimed at reducing construction-related pollution. Rai said he personally inspected construction sites and met with over 120 companies to enforce strict dust-control measures.

The companies received training on guidelines to minimise dust pollution, with those showing exceptional compliance being recognized with the Hari Ratan Award. The government has initiated regular inspections and has started imposing penalties on violators, vowing to intensify the crackdown in the coming weeks.