00:00It's not that when the pollution level increases, it becomes a guideline.
00:07Because if the mid-time is like this every year, then the mid-time will be permanently developed as a disease.
00:15This Ferrari is burning, the factory, the unauthorized factory is burning, this is its smoke.
00:25It should rain every 8 to 10 minutes. Why isn't it raining?
00:55Delhi's lungs are choking and every breath we take is tainted.
01:15The question is, how did we get here?
01:19Just a decade ago, Delhi's AQI ranged between 100 to 150, which still indicated pollution, but was not as dire as today's level.
01:29But as the years passed, the situation worsened dramatically.
01:34Today, Delhi's AQI is not just a number, it is a health crisis.
01:40The shift started with rapid urbanization, rising vehicular emission, industrial growth and a growing population.
01:48But what really tipped the scale was the combination of stubble burning in neighboring state and the cold winter air,
01:56which traps pollutants closer to the ground.
01:59And now we are at a breaking point.
02:06Delhi's air has now been classified as a medical emergency.
02:11Health experts are alarmed and public concern is mounting.
02:15The Delhi government has been relentless, implementing measures like restricting vehicle movement,
02:21imposing Grab Stage 4 restrictions and even requesting central government interventions.
02:27Environment Minister Gopal Rai has been vocal about the situation,
02:31urging the Centre to approve artificial rain, a possible and only solution to this environmental catastrophe.
02:40Now let's understand what is artificial rain or cloud seeding?
02:45Well, it is a process that might sound like a science fiction, but could be the key to elevating Delhi's suffocating smog.
02:53Cloud seeding is a form of weather modification used to enhance rainfall, which can help clear out the toxic particles in the air.
03:02The process involves introducing chemicals like silver iodide, potassium chloride or even dry ice into the clouds,
03:10either from aircraft or ground-based generators.
03:14These substances act as nuclei for water vapour, encouraging the formation of water droplets that coalesce to form rain.
03:24Within about half an hour, the sky could be releasing water and pollutants settle to the ground.
03:30The rain clears the air, reducing smog and potentially improving the AQI.
03:36But it is not as simple as it sounds.
03:39The process requires authorization from several central government agencies,
03:44including the Ministry of Defence, DGCA and Airport Authority of India.
03:49The Delhi government has already sought approval multiple times, but bureaucratic hurdles remain.
03:55Why is cloud seeding so important now?
03:59With Delhi's AQI hovering at the 500 mark, traditional methods are simply not enough.
04:05The solution needs to be bold, innovative and immediate.
04:10Cloud seeding offers hope, helping to mitigate the crisis by reducing pollutants faster than any road cleaning or industrial shutdown could.
04:19The process would need to be repeated several times, depending on the severity of the air pollution
04:26and should be used as part of a larger strategy to tackle pollution at its root causes.
04:35As Delhi struggles to breathe, time is running out.
04:38The people of Delhi cannot wait for another government meeting or endless paperwork.
04:44The toxic air is here, and it is here to stay unless swift action is taken.
04:50Artificial rain might sound like a dream, but it is a dream that must be made into a reality.
04:57If cloud seeding works, it could provide a temporary but much-needed respite.
05:03But long-term solution, drastic changes in policy, vehicle management, industrial regulation
05:09and most importantly, tackling the source of crop residue burning must follow.
05:16Delhi's battle against air pollution is no more just an environmental issue.
05:21It has now become a serious health emergency for the city.
05:25The city is suffocating, and the time is to act now.
05:30We will wait until the city becomes uninhabitable, or we will rise above the smog to take breath of fresh air once again.
05:39The time will only tell.
05:41Until then, keep watching One India for more such updates.
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