The day after Delhi's air quality slipped into the 'poor' category, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday (October 15) said that
if weather conditions remain favourable, the government will conduct artificial rain in the next two to three days. Sirsa noted that the government has all the requested permissions and has trained the pilots for the cloud seeding process. "Both pilots of this plane conducted a trial over the area where the trial is to be conducted. In this trial, they familiarised themselves with the area and the plane," he added. The environment minister further stressed that this whole training process has been ongoing for the past four days and has been successful so far. "When the Meteorological Department gives us the green signal in the next 2-3 days, a sample of the cloud seeding will be taken after blasting it," he said, adding that they are waiting for clouds to appear soon.
Cloud seeding likely post Diwali
The minister said that the cloud seeding might happen a day after Diwali or the next day. This comes a day after the city's air quality index turned poor and GRAP-1 restrictions were imposed in the capital.
"The day after Diwali, or the next day, whenever the weather department gives us permission, we will do it. Whenever they give us permission, we'll take a plane and get permission to fly within three hours," he said.
"We've already got everything we need to do the cloud seeding," the minister added.
Also Read: Delhi Pollution Alert: GRAP-1 Curbs Kick In as AQI Turns ‘Poor’—Check Car Curbs, Do’s & Don’ts
GRAP-1 in Delhi-NCR
As Delhi's air quality worsened and, for the first time in four months, slipped to the "poor" category, the Central Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed GRAP-1 restrictions across the national capital. Delhi recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 234 at 4 pm on Tuesday (October 14).
The restrictions under GRAP-1 are implemented when the AQI goes beyond the set limit of 200. A 27-point action plan has been applicable from 8 am today across Delhi NCR, which includes steps to be implemented by various agencies, including Pollution Control Boards.
The Delhi citizens are urged to cooperate in implementing these guidelines. Meanwhile, the Delhi environment minister is holding a meeting with the pollution board, Delhi police, Revenue department for the implementation of the green cracker ruling by the Supreme Court.
