To combat the city's pollution problem, Delhi is counting on IIT Kanpur's artificial rain

The rising air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR has found a fresh answer in artificial rain technology offered by IIT Kanpur, which is awaiting the necessary climatic conditions and regulatory approvals for implementation.

In response to the worsening air pollution problems in Delhi-NCR, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has proposed a revolutionary solution. With the goal of improving air quality, the renowned institute is said to have devised a method that uses 'fake rain' to wash the environment of dust and other pollutants.

Five Years In The Making

The institute has been working on artificial rain for more than five years and just completed a test. According to reports, researchers obtained the necessary approvals for cloud seeding from government officials, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The project's leader, Manindra Aggarwal, Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Kanpur, indicated that this unique technology might potentially provide a week's relief to residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) in the midst of poor air quality. He went on to say, "The most important thing for its technology is the clouds which are not seen coming this week" .

Conditional Application: Meteorological Factors And Approvals

Nonetheless, the presence of suitably wet clouds and appropriate winds is required for artificial rain. Because cloud seeding and artificial rainfall are not exact sciences, it is unknown if they would work in the pre-winter months or on a larger scale. The execution requires multiple approvals, including those from the DGCA, the home ministry, and the special security organization in charge of the Prime Minister's security.

Delhi Government's Proposal: Eager For Solutions

Recognizing the potential of this technique, the Delhi Government has expressed strong interest and asked Professor Aggarwal and his colleagues for a detailed proposal. The relevant licenses would be requested following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).