Delhi Government Implements Artificial Rain Project to Combat Air Pollution Crisis
The Delhi government is taking a proactive approach to combat the hazardous air crisis in the city by implementing an artificial rain project. The initiative, devised by scientists at IIT-Kanpur, aims to improve the air quality in Delhi and provide relief to its residents. However, Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai clarified that the recent light showers in the city were not a result of the artificial rain project.
Rai mentioned that numerous permissions are required to execute the artificial rain project, and the proposal has been presented in front of the Supreme Court for approval. Once granted, the government will make the necessary preparations to induce artificial rain when needed.
The government is closely monitoring the impact of recent rains on Delhi’s pollution levels. According to Rai, there has been a noticeable improvement with the air quality index (AQI) dropping from above 450 to around 300. The implementation of the odd-even vehicle rationing scheme, originally scheduled for November 13 to 20, has been postponed, and the situation will be re-evaluated after Diwali.
Social media was abuzz with conversations surrounding the intermittent rain in Delhi, which played a significant role in clearing the suffocating haze that had enveloped the city for over 10 days. As of 1 pm, Delhi’s AQI stood at 314, categorizing it as very poor. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts further improvement in air quality due to favorable wind speed that aids in dispersing pollutants.
Kuldeep Srivastava, a senior scientist at the IMD, explained that many parts of northwest India, including Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, have also experienced rainfall. The IMD had already forecasted a marginal improvement in air quality prior to Diwali due to light rain and a change in wind direction. Once a fresh western disturbance affecting northwest India passes, a subsequent increase in wind speed is expected, contributing to the dispersion of pollutants.
Last year, Delhi avoided severe pollution post-Diwali due to reduced instances of stubble burning, delayed rain spells, and early festival celebrations. Stubble burning in neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana accounted for 38% of Delhi’s air pollution on Wednesday, which decreased to 33% on Thursday and is anticipated to reach 16% on Friday. Transportation is another significant contributor, accounting for 12 to 14% of Delhi’s pollution.
Vinay Kumar Sehgal, a principal scientist at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), anticipates a decline in farm fires in Punjab and Haryana for a few days due to wet conditions caused by rainfall. In light of the worsening air pollution, the Delhi government plans to induce artificial rain through cloud seeding on November 20-21, a proposal that will be presented to the Supreme Court. The implementation of the odd-even car-rationing scheme will also depend on the court’s order, with the matter scheduled for review on Friday.
Medical professionals have compared breathing the polluted air in Delhi to smoking around 10 cigarettes a day. Prolonged exposure to high pollution levels significantly increases the risk of respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as cardiovascular diseases.
Stringent restrictions outlined in the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) by the central government have been imposed in Delhi. Stage IV restrictions, characterized by an AQI above 450, led to a ban on all construction work and the entry of polluting trucks into the city. Pollution in Delhi-NCR is caused by various factors like unfavorable weather conditions, vehicular emissions, crop residue burning, and local sources of pollution.
According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the capital experiences peak pollution from November 1 to November 15, coinciding with an increase in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana. The drop in temperature, calm winds trapping pollutants, and the surge in paddy-straw burning have contributed to the declining air quality in Delhi.
Delhi’s air pollution problem has gained global attention, with reports stating that it shortens lives by almost 12 years. The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) ranked Delhi’s air pollution among the worst in the world’s capital cities.
The implementation of the artificial rain project demonstrates the Delhi government’s determination to address the critical air pollution crisis. By actively exploring innovative solutions, they aim to provide relief to the residents of Delhi and safeguard their health and well-being.
