Delhi Gets DGCA Nod for Artificial Rain Trials to Tackle Pollution Crisis

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has greenlit the capital's proposal to conduct artificial rain experiments. The approval comes after a nod from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), paving the way for Delhi’s first official cloud-seeding pilot project.

Announcing the development at a press briefing on Tuesday, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that all necessary permissions had now been secured, including the crucial final clearance from the DGCA.

“Earlier governments made tall claims about artificial rain and merely exchanged paperwork. Our administration has taken concrete steps and obtained every clearance required to turn this vision into reality,” he stated.

According to Sirsa, five trial operations will soon be carried out in pollution-prone areas including Alipur, Bawana, and Rohini. The trials are tentatively scheduled to take place between August 30 and September 10, subject to the availability of suitable cloud conditions.

“The project is technically ready. Every logistical and scientific aspect has been addressed. The only thing we’re now waiting for is the right kind of clouds,” Sirsa said. He emphasized that this initiative is not a one-off experiment but a step towards a long-term strategy to combat the capital’s worsening air quality.

The cloud-seeding operation will be led by the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and the IMD. The entire procedure will be carried out using a Cessna 206-H aircraft (VT-IIT), specially designated for the mission.

Sirsa described the project as a "scientific leap forward" in Delhi’s ongoing war against toxic air. “From deploying anti-smog guns and water sprinklers, to enforcing stricter construction dust norms, and now to tapping into advanced atmospheric science — this government is committed to delivering clean air to every citizen,” he asserted.

He added that artificial rain is not just about inducing precipitation, but represents a larger commitment to innovation and environmental accountability. “This pilot is a symbol of scientific determination and public responsibility. Every citizen deserves breathable air, and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that,” Sirsa declared.

If successful, Delhi’s cloud-seeding trial could become a blueprint for other pollution-choked Indian cities exploring alternative methods to combat air quality emergencies.

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