Delhi's Air Pollution Crisis: Cloud Seeding Trial Begins Amid Skepticism.
The Indian capital has been struggling with severe air pollution for years, and a new initiative is being tested in an effort to bring cleaner air to the city. The Delhi government has launched a cloud-seeding experiment, which involves using aircraft or drones to add silver iodide particles to clouds, aiming to induce artificial rain and improve air quality.
The plan was first proposed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier this year, but it had been put on hold due to unpredictable weather conditions. However, with Delhi's air quality again reaching hazardous levels after the recent Diwali festival, the government has finally decided to roll out the scheme.
The trial flight was conducted on Thursday, and officials claim that if conditions remain favorable, Delhi will experience its first artificial rain on October 29. However, experts are skeptical about the effectiveness of cloud seeding, saying it is not a panacea for air pollution. They argue that the process can produce small but occasional effects, but does not address the root causes of pollutants.
Critics have also pointed out that there is limited research into the long-term effects of using silver iodide and other chemicals in repeated cloud-seeding operations on agriculture and human health. The plan has been likened to the "smog towers" previously erected in Delhi, which were found to be largely ineffective at improving air quality.
Delhi has consistently ranked as the world's most polluted city for over a decade, with pollution levels rising by 6% in 2024. During winter, fine particulate matter levels in the city often exceed those seen during Beijing's notorious "airpocalypse" in 2013.
The Indian capital has been struggling with severe air pollution for years, and a new initiative is being tested in an effort to bring cleaner air to the city. The Delhi government has launched a cloud-seeding experiment, which involves using aircraft or drones to add silver iodide particles to clouds, aiming to induce artificial rain and improve air quality.
The plan was first proposed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier this year, but it had been put on hold due to unpredictable weather conditions. However, with Delhi's air quality again reaching hazardous levels after the recent Diwali festival, the government has finally decided to roll out the scheme.
The trial flight was conducted on Thursday, and officials claim that if conditions remain favorable, Delhi will experience its first artificial rain on October 29. However, experts are skeptical about the effectiveness of cloud seeding, saying it is not a panacea for air pollution. They argue that the process can produce small but occasional effects, but does not address the root causes of pollutants.
Critics have also pointed out that there is limited research into the long-term effects of using silver iodide and other chemicals in repeated cloud-seeding operations on agriculture and human health. The plan has been likened to the "smog towers" previously erected in Delhi, which were found to be largely ineffective at improving air quality.
Delhi has consistently ranked as the world's most polluted city for over a decade, with pollution levels rising by 6% in 2024. During winter, fine particulate matter levels in the city often exceed those seen during Beijing's notorious "airpocalypse" in 2013.
. I mean, we've been hearing about it for ages, and nothing seems to have changed. It's always something new and promise-y, but when does the magic happen? 
The fact that experts are skeptical too makes me think this is just another band-aid solution.
. If it were easy to fix the problem, they would've done it already. I'd love to see some actual numbers and data on how effective this thing is gonna be, but until then, I'm not holding my breath... 
silver iodide and all that sounds sketchy though... like u said experts are skeptical cuz its not a magic bullet for air pollution. can't we just get some real policies in place instead of relying on gimmicks 
still hoping this experiment brings some hope for delhi tho 
. I've been following this air pollution crisis for years, and it's getting worse by the day. I mean, who thought cloud seeding was gonna be the magic solution? 
It sounds like they're putting all their hopes on a silver bullet that might not even work. And what really gets me is that they're doing this without fully understanding the long-term effects on our health and environment 
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. The idea of artificial rain might sound nice, but at what cost? Are we just delaying the inevitable or creating a new set of problems? I don't have all the answers, but I do know that Delhi needs real solutions that address the root causes of pollution 
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and whats with the lack of research on the chemicals used in cloud seeding? how can we be sure its safe for humans and animals? 
plus, have delhi's air quality issues even been addressed before? it seems like they're just kicking the can down the road... 
. Still, 6% increase in pollution is crazy 
. And those "smog towers" from a few years ago? Yeah, that was a total bust 
It's not that hard to figure out. First of all, it's like they're trying to fix the symptoms rather than the cause. Air pollution is a complex issue, and just adding some silver iodide particles to clouds isn't going to cut it. I mean, what about all the other pollutants in the air? Don't those count for anything?
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. Delhi's air quality is still going to be a problem next year and the year after that... what's the plan then? 
Maybe it's just a tiny step towards making Delhi's air cleaner... but a step is still a step, right? 
I'm no expert, but it just seems like they're trying to solve one problem without addressing the root causes... like, have they considered reducing emissions from industries and vehicles? 
