Delhi gets DGCA nod for cloud-seeding trials to mitigate air pollution in city

In a significant development, the Delhi government has secured final DGCA clearance for conducting cloud-seeding trials over the National Capital.

- MEHANDI GARG

The approval marks the beginning of Delhi's first-ever airborne experiment to mitigate pollution through induced precipitation.

Delhi's Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated: "Cloud-seeding has been spoken about for years but never implemented. For 10 years, it remained on papers. We took this up, coordinated with 13 departments, secured all approvals including from DGCA, and now Delhi will finally witness cloud seeding between August 30 and September 10. This is a historic achievement."

He also elaborated that while the original DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) clearance allowed operations between July 4 and July 11, 2025, input from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) suggested that monsoon cloud patterns during this window may not support optimal cloud-seeding. As a result, IIT Kanpur, in consultation with the Delhi government, requested an alternate window—from August 30 to September 10—better suited for the operation.