IIT Kanpur Proposes “Artificial Rains” to Tackle Delhi’s Air Pollution Woes

IIT Kanpur’s Innovative Solution
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have developed a groundbreaking solution to combat air pollution in Delhi and its surrounding regions. Their proposal involves employing “artificial rains” through cloud seeding to help disperse pollutants and dust from the atmosphere. The premier institute has been diligently working on creating the necessary conditions for artificial rains for over five years and successfully conducted trials in July.
Complex Challenges and Approvals
While the concept of artificial rain shows promise, it remains subject to specific meteorological conditions, including the presence of suitable cloud formations with adequate moisture and appropriate winds. The implementation of this innovative approach also requires multiple approvals, including those from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Special Protection Group responsible for the Prime Minister’s security. To achieve this, flights would need to be permitted over Delhi, an area struggling with air quality.
Professor Manindra Agrawal of the computer science and engineering department at IIT Kanpur, who spearheaded the project, explained that artificial rains could provide temporary relief to residents in the National Capital Region (NCR) dealing with poor air quality for up to a week.
With Delhi’s air quality entering the ‘severe plus’ category for the second time in three days, stringent measures under stage IV of the graded response action plan (GRAP) have been enacted, affecting vehicular entry and operations in the city.
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