Delhi's Artificial Rain Experiment Fails, Experts Urge Real Solutions
Delhi's attempt to combat smog through cloud seeding failed to produce significant rainfall, highlighting the limitations of artificial rain. Experts argue that such methods are costly and short-lived, and stress the need for addressing root causes of pollution.
Delhi's recent cloud seeding experiment, aimed at inducing artificial rain to clear winter smog, proved ineffective due to insufficient moisture and thin clouds. The initiative, costing about ₹3 crore and conducted by IIT Kanpur, sprayed chemicals like silver iodide to trigger rainfall, but minimal results were achieved. Environmental experts and activists emphasize that tackling pollution requires addressing its root causes, such as crop burning, vehicle emissions, and industrial pollution, rather than relying on temporary fixes. They warn that artificial rain is expensive, short-lived, and may alter rainfall patterns, while the long-term health and environmental impacts of cloud seeding chemicals remain uncertain. Despite various efforts, Delhi's air quality remains dangerously poor, with PM2.5 levels far exceeding safe limits. Experts stress that sustainable solutions, not quick fixes, are needed to resolve the city's persistent pollution crisis.
