New Delhi [India], October 23 : Following the successful trial of cloud seeding across the national capital by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday called the event a "historic milestone" under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Sirsa mentioned that there will be clouds over Delhi from October 28 to 30 and noted that the Delhi government is ready with physical trials and permissions to induce artificial rain on October 29.
"Today was a historic day for Delhi as the Delhi government, under the leadership of CM Rekha Gupta, achieved a historic milestone. The first successful trial of cloud seeding was done today. As per the meteorological department, there will be clouds above Delhi on 28, 29, 30 October. Delhi government is absolutely ready with physical trials and permissions to induce artificial rain on 29 October," Sirsa said in a self-made video.
This comes after a trial seeding flight was done from IIT Kanpur to Delhi via Meerut, Khekra, Burari, Sadakpur, Bhojpur, Aligarh, and back to IIT Kanpur. In this cloud, seeding flares were fired between Khekra and Burari and over the Badli area using pyro techniques, as per the office of Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
The purpose of the flight was to assess the aircraft's readiness and endurance, the cloud-seeding capabilities, the cloud-seeding fitments and flares, and coordination among all involved agencies.
On October 22, in an interview with ANI, Sirsa said that the cloud seeding operations are ready to take off, with Cessna aircraft and all necessary equipment in place. The pilots are licensed, and authorities are now awaiting the green signal from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to commence operations as soon as clouds form.
Sirsa highlighted that the project, which aims to simulate artificial rainfall and remove pollutants, depends on suitable atmospheric conditions.
He said, "For cloud seeding, clouds are essential. We already have full permission from the India Meteorological Department, and everything is under control. The planes have arrived, including the Cessna, and all the necessary equipment has been installed. The pilots have obtained their licenses. Now, we are just waiting for the green signal from the Meteorological Department to proceed with cloud seeding. We are confident that within the next week, as soon as the clouds form, the cloud seeding operations will be carried out.
"Previous governments only talked; we actually did the groundwork in seven months: approvals, agreements, MOUs, consultations with scientists and arrangements with pilots and aircraft," said Sirsa.