Cloud seeding seen as key to tackling Delhi’s winter pollution: CM Rekha Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday took significant steps to address two pressing challenges in the city: rising pollution and long-neglected infrastructure. From testing advanced technology to providing basic facilities, her initiatives aim to improve daily life and environmental quality in the capital.

On the environmental front, Gupta highlighted cloud seeding, a technique to induce artificial rainfall, as a potential tool to combat Delhi’s severe winter smog. The first trial was conducted on Thursday in the Burari area, where small amounts of silver iodide and sodium chloride (common salt) were released from a small aircraft. These substances help water droplets in clouds combine and fall as rain, potentially washing pollutants from the air. However, the air’s moisture level was less than 20 per cent, far below the roughly 50 per cent needed for rainfall, so no rain occurred.

IIT-Kanpur, partnering with the Delhi government, said the trial helped test the aircraft, seeding equipment, and team coordination, preparing the system for future attempts. Cloud seeding offers temporary relief, experts say, but cannot solve pollution permanently. Sustainable improvements will require other measures, such as air purification towers, urban green spaces, photocatalytic surfaces that break down pollutants, and stricter traffic and industrial regulations. The Delhi government plans five cloud-seeding trials in total, costing Rs 3.21 crore, with approval from aviation authorities.

On the infrastructure side, Gupta launched a long-awaited piped water project at the BSF camp in Chhawla, west Delhi. The 25th Battalion camp, set up in 1982, had been without proper water supply for over four decades. The new pipeline, connected to the Dwarka water treatment plant, will also improve water access for neighboring villages. Gupta celebrated Bhai Dooj with BSF personnel during the event and assured further upgrades, including a synthetic sports track within the camp.

“By combining technology, infrastructure, and community-focused planning, we are working to make Delhi a cleaner, healthier, and more livable city,” Gupta said, highlighting the government’s commitment to both environmental sustainability and citizens’ welfare.