According to Gopal Rai, the Delhi AQI may improve after Friday, and a decision about artificial rain and odd-even would be made effective in two to three days.
(Image source : PTI)
Measures taken for Pollution control
The national capital’s pollution level will be monitored for the next two to three days, according to Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, before a decision about artificial or odd-even rain is made. On Wednesday morning, two days after Diwali, Delhi’s air quality was classified as “very poor.” With the lowest morning temperature and the least amount of wind, nothing will change in the next two to three days. After two to three days, the wind might pick up speed. Thus, it is anticipated that things will improve. Right now, we’re keeping an eye on things. We are going to have a meeting with the departments and scientists tomorrow,” Gopal Rai stated. The minister stated that the government will consider more stringent measures, such as odd-even, if the AQI falls into the “severe plus” category.
Condition after the recent rainfall in Delhi
Delhi experiences year-round pollution because of a number of factors, such as high industrial and vehicular emissions and dust. Days before Diwali, rain brought a brief respite from the choke-inducing pollution in Delhi; however, the air quality has since deteriorated once more. From Wednesday through Friday, Delhi’s air quality is probably going to stay in the “very poor” category.
According to the Early Warning System’s forecasts, the air quality is expected to stay mostly in the “very poor” category for the next six days. The Supreme Court questioned the effectiveness of the odd-even scheme, which lowers the number of cars on the road by allowing cars with registration numbers ending in odd to operate on odd dates and the same, so the rule, which was set to take effect on November 13th, was postponed.
Prior to November 20, the Delhi government intended to use cloud seeding technology to create artificial rain in the city. A meeting was called by Gopal Rai with the IIT-Kanpur team. But the Center has to give its approval for this. The government of Delhi had earlier decided to cover all the expenses related to the artificial rain.
(Image source : HT photo)
Meaning of artificial rain
The process of “cloud seeding,” which involves sprinkling chemicals such as potassium iodide, sodium chloride, dry ice, or silver iodide on the atmosphere using drones, aircraft, or helicopters, produces artificial rain. The procedure is comparable to sowing seeds on fertilized ground. Once these chemical particles are released into the atmosphere, they draw in water vapor and create artificial clouds, which eventually produce precipitation.
When is it going to happen?
According to Environment Minister Gopal Rai, 40% of cloud cover and moisture are necessary to create artificial rain. Additionally, he stated that the weather department has been notified by IIT-Kanpur that there may be favorable conditions on November 20 and 21, for which the project is scheduled.
How will it be carried out?
The initiative is reportedly led by IIT-Kanpur, which carried out cloud seeding trials in June. A six-seater Cessna aircraft from IIT Kanpur will be used to seed the clouds with silver iodide. According to IIT’s estimation, each square kilometer would require Rs 1 lakh. The project, which will be carried out in two phases, is expected to cost around Rs 13 crore.
