Delhi to conduct cloud seeding trials in September to combat air pollution: Environment Minister

Environmental Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said in a statement on Friday, July 18, 2025, that Delhi would witness the first cloud seeding attempt in the first two weeks of September to trigger artificial rain and reduce air pollution levels.

Essays planned for early July, Department of Meteorology (IMD), IIT-Kanpur and Indian Tropic Meteorology Institute (ITM), Pune, Pune, said the weather conditions are not conductive for effective seeds.

The reviewed window was selected to overlap with the back -out monsoon, which offers more suitable cloud conditions.

The Delhi government allocated 3,21 Crore for this pilot project, which was ruled by the Department of IIT-Kanpur Aviation and Space Engineering.

The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given operational permission for hearings. The aircraft is equipped with cloud insemination instrumentation and the crew holds all necessary licenses and certificates.

Mr. Sirsa explained that the aircraft would avoid banned areas and that no air photography would be done due to strictly depending on the aviation security norms during the operation.

“We have received all the necessary permissions and the plane is completely ready. Cloud seeding will now take place in the first and second week of September,” the Minister said, “The instrumentation work on the aircraft was completed by IIT-Kanpur and that we have been completely prepared”.

Trials using a Cessna 206-H aircraft (VT-IIT) will consist of five investigations in Northern Delhi, which are some parts of the adjacent Uttar Pradesh, such as Rohini, Bawana, Alipur and Burari.

During Sorties, the plane will fly under the cloud base and release hygroscopic particles such as sodium chloride and other aerosols to stimulate the rainfall. This air modification technique aims to induce artificial rain that can help to wash the pollutants in the air.

“This is a scientific intervention to combat air pollution.