NEW DELHI: Delhi’s ambitious cloud seeding experiment—intended to trigger artificial rain and ease the capital’s worsening air pollution—has been labelled by experts as a “costly, short-lived, and unsustainable” attempt. Despite spending over ₹3.2 crore for five trials, the initiative has yet to produce meaningful rainfall or lasting relief from pollution.
Under the MoU between the Delhi environment department and IIT-Kanpur, each trial cost around ₹64 lakh. Three rounds were conducted over north Delhi, but none resulted in significant rain. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has remained in the very poor to poor category throughout the week.
Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director (Research and Advocacy) at the Centre for Science and Environment, said the city witnessed no substantial rain following the trials. “Even if artificial rain briefly clears pollutants, pollution levels return within hours or days,” she said. “This method is not sustainable—it cannot be deployed frequently through the winter. Such funds should instead target emission reduction at the source for lasting improvement in air quality and public health.”
Shahzad Gani, Assistant Professor at IIT Delhi’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, noted that Delhi’s winter climate is typically too dry for effective cloud seeding. “Rain during this season usually occurs only under the influence of a western disturbance,” he explained. “If rain is already expected due to such a system, cloud seeding becomes redundant. And if heavy rainfall coincides with the process, even coincidentally, who takes responsibility for any resulting damage?” Gani cautioned against reliance on “silver-bullet” measures like smog towers, smog guns, and cloud seeding instead of tackling emissions directly.
Sunil Dahiya, Founder and Lead Analyst at EnviroCatalysts, emphasized that improving air quality requires targeting emissions from specific sectors—transport, power, and construction. “Cosmetic steps may bring short-term visibility gains but offer no real solutions,” he said. “A coordinated, airshed-based strategy across states and agencies is essential to address the true sources of pollution.”
Environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari added that cloud seeding works only when the atmosphere lacks sufficient moisture. “In this case, the skies were already moisture-laden, and natural rain was forecast due to a western disturbance,” she said. “Under such conditions, cloud seeding adds little scientific value—it’s an expensive exercise chasing what nature was already set to deliver. Clean air will not come from artificial rain but from consistent emission control, dust management, and accountable policymaking.”
