00:00The Delhi government has conducted two rounds of cloud seeding trials near the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the last
00:0715 days as part of its efforts to explore artificial rain as a possible measure to tackle rising air pollution
00:14in the national capital, the government sources have said.
00:17Also, according to sources, the trials were conducted at an altitude of approximately 30,000 metres, significantly higher than the
00:26altitude of around 10,000 metres at which cloud seeding operations were carried out in Delhi last year.
00:32More trials are now likely to be conducted after Diwali and Chhat as per the sources, adding that the government
00:38is unlikely to make any official announcement or confirmation regarding the proposed operations until after Diwali.
00:45In fact, cloud seeding is a weather modification technique that is aimed at enhancing the cloud's ability to produce precipitation.
00:53It involves dispersing the substances such as silver iodide and sodium chloride into suitable clouds to encourage the formation of
01:02raindrops or ice crystals as well.
01:04In fact, what we do know is that the Delhi government had first rolled out its cloud seeding project last
01:10year.
01:12And in fact, we also have Shivani Sharma live now joining in to share with us more details on the
01:18same.
01:18Shivani, what are your sources telling you?
01:21Last two weeks, we are given to understand at least two attempts of cloud seeding have occurred.
01:25You know, what is the latest that you can help us understand?
01:28Is there a possibility of this time around the cloud seeding efforts to get successful?
01:37Sakshi, what we are learning now that two attempts of cloud seeding trials have already been done around the international
01:44airport and these have been quite successful attempts.
01:48That's what the government sources have been also indicating.
01:51And you remember last year, these attempts had been done in collaboration with IIT.
01:57And now, once again, this is being done.
02:00And now this time, another experiment is being done, Sakshi, that the altitude of this cloud seeding exercise has been
02:07increased by 10,000 feet.
02:09So last year, it was around 20,000 feet.
02:11This year, it's 30,000 feet.
02:13So the change in altitude might give successful cloud seeding and attempted results.
02:20And what we also learned that after Diwali, there will be more such trials that will happen.
02:25Because, you know, the air pollution levels in Delhi remains a challenge not only for the Delhiites, but also for
02:31the Delhi government.
02:31It has been a big issue.
02:33And every day we see the rising AQI levels.
02:36It is around 300 and 600 at different places and different time.
02:41So now the cloud seeding exercise has returned once again.
02:45Two trials have already been done and more trials will be happening after Diwali.
02:49And the official information and the announcements will also be done later, Sakshi.
02:54Absolutely, Shrivani.
02:56I wanted to also understand from you, since the government is not likely to make any official statements at this
03:02point in time,
03:03are they likely to keep it concealed just to find out or just to not create so much of expectation?
03:08And in case these projects turn unsuccessful, there is a lot of our lashback also on the government.
03:17You are absolutely correct, Sakshi.
03:19Last year, the same thing had happened.
03:21There was a lot of expectation that got created after the cloud seeding attempts were done in the first place.
03:27But the expected results were not yielded.
03:31So this time, it seems that the government is not making any announcements before the success of these trials.
03:38But what the government sources have also indicated that two trials have already been done.
03:42More such trials will happen.
03:43But the announcements will be done.
03:46They might be done later when the success rate is high and the pollution levels are lowered using this kind
03:53of an exercise.
03:53This is a new exercise, Sakshi, we know.
03:56It's not a very common exercise.
03:58And Delhi government is going ahead with the cloud seeding exercise to improve the air quality out here.
04:05But certainly, the announcements will not be made.
04:07That's what the sources indicate.
04:08They will only happen once the success rate has been achieved and the pollution levels are down.
04:14Right. Thanks a lot, Shrivani, for getting us all of those details.
04:17We'll continue to take more updates from you as in when you get more details on the same.
