Tag: cloud seeding

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has expressed concerns over the feasibility of using cloud seeding as an emergency measure to tackle Delhi’s severe air pollution crisis. Responding to a proposal by IIT Kanpur, the CPCB outlined challenges related to the technique’s effectiveness in winter, citing insufficient moisture in the atmosphere and reliance on pre-existing clouds for artificial rainfall.

Pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, which had crossed the 500-mark earlier this week, have started to decrease, signaling that the stringent GRAP IV measures are beginning to take effect. According to officials, the Air Quality Index (AQI) — a measure of air pollution — dropped from 500 to 467 on Tuesday, indicating a slight improvement in the city's air quality.

In a bid to tackle the worsening air quality in the national capital, Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai has written to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, urging the central government to convene an urgent meeting with relevant stakeholders to expedite the approval process for cloud seeding. This weather modification technique aims to mitigate the anticipated rise in air pollution levels following the Diwali festivities.