The Delhi government has requested the centre to allow artificial rain to bring down the toxic pollution levels in the National Capital Region (NCR). Accusing the centre of ignoring its earlier requests, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said artificial rain is now a need of the hour and called for an emergency meeting.
Delhi has already shut schools and stopped constructions to prevent a rise in the pollution that poses a serious health threat to crores of residents in the National Capital Region (NCR). To bring down the pollution, the authorities are exploring options like artificial rain.
Rain can be induced artificially by the cloud seeding process, which experts believe will wash away pollutants from the atmosphere.
“Considering that air quality in Delhi has turned in severe+ category, I believe it is immediately required to consider the use of this method in present situation,” said Mr Rai.
The Delhi Environment Minister said he has written multiple letters to Bhupendra Yadav, the Union Environment Minister, for an emergency meeting to tackle the issue, but there was no action.
Now it is the moral responsibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene, he said at a press conference.
Mr Rai said talks about artificial rain had started with IIT Kanpur last year itself, but they had cited the need for several permissions from the central government. “We started writing to the Union environment minister since August for an emergency meeting and give the required permissions,” he later told NDTV.
He said he had written to Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav on August 30, following it up twice on October 10 and 23. There was neither any response nor any meeting called, he added.
Mr Rai also listed the anti-pollution measures the Delhi government has taken so far, including the implementation of GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan)-IV restrictions. He said experts are being consulted to explore further measures to reduce the smog.
“One of the solutions under consideration is artificial rain, which can help settle pollutants and clear the air,” he added.
