A layer of smog hangs over the skyline in Delhi
YIRMIYAN ARTHUR/AP
"The air pollution crisis is no longer just a respiratory issue. It's now a full-blown assault on our brains and bodies," Jairam Ramesh, the opposition Congress Party spokesman, posted on X.
Cloud seeding involves adding substances such as silver iodide, which has a similar structure to ice, to clouds. This results in water droplets clustering around the added particles and increases the chances of precipitation. For the plan to work, there needs to be enough moisture in the atmosphere. If these pre-conditions are not met, it may not trigger enough rain to make a significant difference and Delhi rarely sees thick, moisture-laden clouds in the dry winter months.
The United States, China, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Russia, and Saudi Arabia have embraced cloud seeding to tackle water scarcity, help farmers with their crops or increase snowfall for ski resorts. India has used cloud seeding before but only in drought-affected regions or for cultivation. This is the first time it is being deployed for air pollution.
Experts say it is a temporary fix, not a long term solution, because it fails to address the root causes of pollution. Critics say it is a gimmick, just like the previous government's installation of "smog towers" across the city. These pumped out clean air but only in a tiny radius, with negligible impact on the overall air quality.
Anumita Roychowdhury, the executive director of the Centre for Science and Environment, said that the benefit of cloud seeding will be extremely limited. "There will be some washout effect that reduces pollutants but will be very temporary -- a few hours or a day or so at most -- and then the pollution will just bounce right back. It is not a solution," she said.
The precipitation can occur at any time from 15 minutes to four hours after the cloud seeding, with authorities saying rainfall is most likely to happen between 5 and 6pm local time (11.30-12.30 GMT) if the seeding is effective.