New Delhi, October 29, 2025: Delhi government’s plan of cloud seeding experiment to tackle toxic air pollution has drawn sharp criticism from experts, who labeled it “hugely expensive, temporary, and unsustainable.” 3 trials conducted in north Delhi at a cost of Rs 1.9 crore have failed to produce good rainfall, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) continuing to range in the ‘very poor’ to ‘poor’ range.
Under an MoU with IIT-Kanpur, the Delhi environment department allocated over Rs 3.2 crore for 5 trials, with each sortie costing Rs 64 lakh. Despite the investment, no huge precipitation occurred. IIT-Kanpur attributed the failure to low atmospheric moisture, a common challenge during Delhi’s dry winter months.
Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment, warned that even if artificial rain temporarily settles pollutants, levels come back within hours or days. “This cannot be a regular winter solution,” she said, urging investments in ground-level emission reductions from vehicles, industries, and construction.Shahzad Gani, assistant professor at IIT Delhi’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, questioned the timing of the trials. “Winter rain in Delhi depends on western disturbances. Seeding during natural moisture-rich conditions adds no value and risks blame for unrelated heavy rains,” he said.
Environmental analyst Sunil Dahiya called cloud seeding a “cosmetic measure” that overlooks sector-specific pollution sources. “Real impact requires coordinated, airshed-based action across states,” he stressed.
Activist Bhavreen Kandhari said cloud seeding can only increase rainfall when the atmosphere is moisture-deficient and conditions are marginal for precipitation. “The skies were already rich with moisture, and a western disturbance was forecast to bring natural rain. Under such circumstances, cloud seeding adds little scientific value; it becomes a costly experiment chasing what nature is already prepared to deliver. Clean air will not come from artificial rain, but from sustained reductions in emissions, dust control, and responsible policy,” said Kandhari.
As Delhi battles persistent smog, experts unanimously advocate systemic reforms over short-term technological fixes.
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