Will Artificial Rain Help Bring Down Pollution Levels?
Currently for delhi, air quality scientists said artificial rain can be experimented in extreme situations like on diwali day or after for a shorter duration around sensitive locations when pollution levels reach extreme levels. Even though artificial rain might cut down pollution to some extent, Dr R Subramanian, Sector Head, air Quality at Center for Study of Science, technology & Policy (CSTEP), said that the relief will only be temporary since other sources like wood burning, vehicular exhaust, industrial pollution, are going to pollute the city unless they are blown out by wind or washed out by rain.Meanwhile sunil Dahiya, Founder and Lead Analyst, Envirocatalysts, said there is no concrete scientific evidence anywhere globally which has approved measures like artificial rain to be effective to clean air at a city scale for sustained durations. He said “Solutions like artificial rain can be implemented in extreme situations like on diwali day or after for a shorter duration around sensitive locations. As soon as artificial rain stops, polluted particles from nearby areas will come in. Any such measure either to induce artificial rain or using water sprinklers in any form or even smog towers are not solutions to air pollution".Moreover he said cloud seeding is estimated to cost around Rs 1 crore for every 100 square kilometres of area. “Given that delhi covers 1,400 square kilometres, the total cost for even a temporary improvement could exceed Rs 14 crore. It would be more prudent to invest in long term measures that target pollution at its source”. Echoing similar views, CREA Analyst Manoj Kumar said delhi must prioritise proactive measures to curb pollution, focusing on reducing emissions from key sources such as transportation, power plants, and industrial activities.