Delhi’s Rs. 3 Crore Artificial Rain Experiment Fails to Deliver Any Results

Delhi’s Rs. 3 Crore Artificial Rain Plan Falls Flat as Moisture Levels Stay Too Low and Only 0.2 mm Rain Was Recorded

Delhi’s big experiment to make artificial rain failed to bring results and instead started a new political fight. The government tried cloud seeding to control the rising air pollution, but not a single area in the city received proper rainfall.

A small plane from IIT Kanpur flew over parts of Delhi and nearby areas like Burari, Mayur Vihar, and Noida. It fired 16 flares that had silver iodide and salt, which are used to help clouds form rain. But the experiment did not work as expected. The weather stayed cloudy, yet no real rain fell.

Why the Cloud Seeding Failed

According to IIT Kanpur’s report, there were only small traces of rain, about 0.1 mm in Noida and 0.2 mm in Greater Noida. These were based on weather model predictions, not real ground data. The report said that the air’s moisture was too low, around 10–15%, which made it impossible for the seeding to work properly.

The project, which cost the Delhi government over Rs. 3 crore was meant to test how artificial rain could help reduce pollution. Each flight costs nearly Rs. 64 lakh. After Tuesday’s two trials, the total spending reached about Rs. 1.28 crore.

Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the test was a “science-first effort” to fight pollution and gather data for future experiments. He claimed that the air quality in some parts slightly improved after the trials. IIT Kanpur’s report also mentioned a small drop in PM2.5 levels in areas like Mayur Vihar, Karol Bagh, and Burari.

Political Reactions and Public Disappointment

However, the experiment quickly turned political. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders mocked the government for wasting money on an idea that did not work. They said the test was done on a day when rain was already predicted by the weather department. “Will anyone say whether the rain is natural or artificial?” an AAP leader joked.

Experts also raised doubts. Scientists said cloud seeding only works when clouds are full of moisture. During Delhi’s pollution season, such clouds are rare. They added that even if rain did fall, the effect on pollution would last only a few hours, as the main sources of pollution remain.

Residents in Burari also showed disappointment. Many said they expected rain to clean the dusty air, but the sky remained dry and gray. Shopkeepers complained that dust covers everything quickly and makes breathing harder.

The failed trial has shown how difficult it is to use artificial methods to clean Delhi’s air. While cloud seeding sounded like a quick fix, experts say real change will come only through long-term steps like cutting emissions and reducing dust from roads and construction.