Cloud Seeding

This edition of 5 Live focusses on the Delhi government's controversial cloud seeding experiment to combat pollution and Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues’ powerful statement on mental health.

This special report examines the controversy surrounding the Delhi government's estimated ₹25 crore cloud seeding project, spearheaded by figures like Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, intended to combat pollution. In a December 2024 written reply to the Rajya Sabha, the Union Environment Ministry, quoting experts, had noted that effective cloud seeding requires specific conditions 'generally absent during Delhi's cold and dry winter months' and flagged concerns about 'uncertainties, efficacy, and potential adverse effects of the chemicals'. The programme delves into why the project proceeded despite advice against it from three central agencies—CAQM, CPCB, and IMD—and explores the political fallout, including the Aam Aadmi Party's criticism of a plan they themselves had proposed under Arvind Kejriwal in 2023. We analyse the science, the politics, and the aftermath of this expensive experiment.

This special report examines Delhi's controversial push for cloud seeding to combat air pollution, featuring an in-depth interview with M. Rajeevan, former Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Mr. Rajeevan states that while he avoids certain words for officials, 'scientifically if I am scientist, I will tell at his face. It is a ridiculous way of doing'. The programme explores the scientific reasons why this technique is not viable for mitigating Delhi's pollution, especially in the dry winter season when suitable clouds are absent. The discussion covers the flawed recent trials, the high costs involved, and contrasts this temporary measure with the critical need to address pollution at its source. Mr. Rajeevan reveals he rejected a similar proposal in 2018, emphasizing that science, unlike politics, does not change and that there are no shortcuts to achieving clean air.

Take a virtual tour inside Delhi’s first round of cloud seeding attempt, which promised cleaner air and a chance of rain — but the skies stayed dry.

In an interview on India's air pollution crisis, former AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria called the situation a 'silent killer,' referencing a global report that attributed 8.1 million deaths to air pollution in 2021. Dr. Guleria stated that breathing polluted air over many years is akin to 'smoking eight to 10 cigarettes every day.' He explained that fine particulate matter can enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart attacks, stroke, dementia, and certain cancers. He noted that temporary measures like cloud seeding have failed in Delhi and stressed the need for long-term sustainable solutions, citing the successful implementation of strict legislation in Beijing. Dr. Guleria advised caution for children and the elderly, suggesting they avoid outdoor activities during peak pollution hours.

This special report focuses on Delhi's alarming descent into the 'severe' air quality category and the subsequent failure of the much-anticipated cloud seeding project led by IIT Kanpur. The transcript highlights how 'artificial rains have been put on hold because weather conditions are not favorable but it has also triggered a tremendous political battle over pollution between Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party.' [None] While residents of the national capital face hazardous air, with AQI levels crossing 400 in areas like Vivek Vihar and Anand Vihar, the project, intended to provide relief, was stalled. [None, 21] Experts from IIT Kanpur cited insufficient humidity as the primary reason for the unsuccessful trials, derailing the government's plan to combat the toxic smog. The situation underscores the immense challenge of tackling pollution and has intensified the political blame game.

This special report examines the controversy around using cloud seeding to tackle Delhi's severe air pollution, featuring Professor Manindra Agarwal of IIT Kanpur and policy expert Zerreen of the Institute of Governance and Sustainable Development. 'You're trying to solve for the symptoms rather than solving for the underlying disease,' argues Zerreen, questioning the high-cost experiment. The discussion delves into IIT Kanpur's recent trial, which, despite not producing rain due to low moisture, showed a 5-15% drop in PM2.5 and PM10 levels. The debate also highlights the political slugfest, with the BJP government's current efforts contrasted with the AAP's 2023 proposal and a 2024 Union Ministry report questioning the method's feasibility. At an estimated cost of 30 crores for a winter season, the central conflict remains whether this technological gamble is a viable short-term fix or a distraction from crucial long-term policy reforms.

As Bihar heads into a fiercely contested election, political temperatures are soaring with Rahul Gandhi joining RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, triggering sharp BJP reactions. Meanwhile, in Delhi, the government's ambitious cloud seeding experiment with IIT Kanpur raises both hope and controversy.

A political storm has erupted over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls across 12 states. Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress and DMK, led by figures like Mamata Banerjee and M.K. Stalin, have accused the BJP of conspiring to disenfranchise minorities and the poor ahead of elections. 'The motive is clear, Preeti ji,' declared TMC spokesperson Tausif Rehman, alleging the selective targeting of states like West Bengal. The controversy follows a similar exercise in Bihar, which resulted in the deletion of nearly 66 lakh names from voter lists. While the opposition terms it 'silent, invisible rigging,' the BJP defends the drive as a necessary clean-up of electoral rolls to remove ineligible voters, citing constitutional provisions and previous revisions under Congress rule. The Election Commission maintains it is a transparent process to ensure the integrity of the voter list.

This special report covers Delhi's attempt to fight hazardous air pollution using cloud seeding, an experiment led by IIT Kanpur that was suspended. The IIT Kanpur team confirmed the decision, stating, 'Prediction for today was that there will be clouds with the higher moisture content, but today morning that was revised that the moisture content is going to be even lower than yesterday.' With the capital's air quality remaining in the 'very poor' category, the failure has ignited a political firestorm, with the opposition Aam Aadmi Party calling the BJP-led Delhi government's effort a 'fraud' and a waste of taxpayer money. While authorities deploy anti-smog guns as a stopgap, the episode raises critical questions on scientific solutions and accountability in Delhi's relentless struggle to breathe.

This special report focuses on Delhi's stalled cloud seeding experiment with IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agarwal, and the rising health risks for fit individuals, highlighted by Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath's stroke. ‘Cloud seeding is not a solution to the problem of pollution,’ states IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agarwal, who is leading the experiment. The project, estimated to cost ₹25 crore for the winter, has been paused due to unfavourable weather conditions with low moisture in the clouds. Professor Agarwal clarifies that the experiment is an 'SOS measure' for temporary relief, not a permanent fix for the capital's pollution crisis. The report then pivots to the cautionary tale of Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath, who suffered a stroke despite a fit lifestyle, underscoring the hidden dangers of stress, exhaustion, and overtraining, and the critical importance of seeking immediate medical help.

This special report focuses on Delhi's ambitious cloud seeding experiment to combat air pollution, featuring an exclusive interview with IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agarwal. Agarwal provides a crucial reality check, stating, 'cloud seeding is not a solution to the problem of pollution. It is an SOS measure'. The interview delves into why the initial attempt failed to produce rain due to low moisture, the decision to pause the trial, and plans for the winter. Agarwal addresses the project's potential ₹25-30 crore seasonal cost, its limited impact on AQI, and confirms the materials used pose no health risk. He also recounts the project's origins, the development of indigenous technology, and the challenge of securing permissions, crediting political leadership for enabling the current scientific trials.

Two aircraft sprayed salt and silver iodide into the clouds to trigger a downpour that could wash Delhi's smog away.

In an exclusive interview with India Today, IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agarwal explained the entire cloud seeding experiment and said it is not a solution to the problem of pollution, it's an SOS measure. 

This special report focuses on Delhi's battle with severe air pollution and the recent cloud seeding trials conducted by IIT Kanpur to induce artificial rain. The Aam Aadmi Party has launched a scathing attack on the Delhi government calling the pollution control effort 'just a PR stunt and accusing the government of wasting taxpayers money.' The experiment, led by IIT Kanpur Director Maninder Agarwal, was put on hold after initial trials failed to produce significant rainfall due to low moisture levels. Professor Agarwal clarified that the flights went ahead despite the poor conditions to collect crucial data and did achieve a minor reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 levels of about 10 to 20 percent. The political blame game has intensified, with the AAP questioning the BJP-led Delhi government's expenditure on an experiment they claim was doomed to fail.

This special report examines IIT Kanpur's cloud seeding project, a scientific experiment to combat Delhi's severe winter air pollution by inducing artificial rain. The speaker from IIT Kanpur states, 'It is but a band-aid or perhaps a temporary respite from pollution, not a solution to pollution.' The discussion covers the technology, which is now indigenously developed, and its potential cost of up to ₹25 crore for a full winter season. It also addresses public health concerns, asserting that the concentration of chemicals like silver iodide is too low to cause harm. The project is presented as a necessary, albeit temporary, measure for emergency 'SOS' situations while long-term solutions to pollution sources are sought, acknowledging that the jury is still out on its overall cost-effectiveness.

This special report focuses on Delhi's cloud seeding experiment to combat air pollution, featuring an exclusive interview with IIT Kanpur Director, Manindra Aggarwal. Professor Aggarwal states, 'Cloud seeding is not a solution to the problem of pollution. It's an SOS measure.' The initial trials were paused due to unfavourable weather conditions, specifically low moisture in the clouds. Professor Aggarwal clarifies that the first flights were intended to gather data, even with the knowledge that they were unlikely to produce rain. He explains that while there was a minor 10-20% drop in PM2.5 levels, cloud seeding is a temporary measure, with a potential cost of ₹25 crore for the winter season. The project is framed as a scientific experiment to provide temporary relief during severe pollution episodes, not a permanent fix for the crisis.

This special report covers the suspension of IIT Kanpur's ambitious cloud seeding trial in Delhi, aimed at curbing severe air pollution, and the political controversy it has ignited between BJP's Manjinder Singh Sirsa and AAP Minister Sourabh Bharadwaj. 'Any failure on the basis of a test is a success in itself,' stated Manjinder Singh Sirsa, defending the exercise against criticism. The project was put on hold after initial trials failed to produce rain, a result attributed to insufficient atmospheric moisture—recorded at just 10-20% when over 50% is considered necessary for the procedure to be effective. While the AAP government's Sourabh Bharadwaj attacked Sirsa's scientific credibility, Sirsa maintained that the initiative was a historic and necessary scientific experiment to determine if rainfall could be induced in low-moisture winter conditions to fight pollution. The report delves into the science, the political blame game, and the uncertain future of this anti-pollution measure.

This special report covers the suspension of IIT Kanpur's ambitious cloud seeding trial in Delhi, aimed at curbing severe air pollution, and the political controversy it has ignited between BJP's Manjinder Singh Sirsa and AAP Minister Sourabh Bharadwaj. 'Any failure on the basis of a test is a success in itself,' stated Manjinder Singh Sirsa, defending the exercise against criticism. The project was put on hold after initial trials failed to produce rain, a result attributed to insufficient atmospheric moisture—recorded at just 10-20% when over 50% is considered necessary for the procedure to be effective. While the AAP government's Sourabh Bharadwaj attacked Sirsa's scientific credibility, Sirsa maintained that the initiative was a historic and necessary scientific experiment to determine if rainfall could be induced in low-moisture winter conditions to fight pollution. The report delves into the science, the political blame game, and the uncertain future of this anti-pollution measure.

This special report from India Today reviews Delhi's recent cloud seeding trial, a collaboration between the government and IIT Kanpur to combat severe air pollution, featuring insights from IIT Kanpur Director, Professor Manendra Agarwal. Professor Agarwal stated, 'We have been saying right from the beginning that we need clouds with reasonable amount of moisture in order to make it rain.' Despite no significant rainfall due to low moisture levels, the experiment is being hailed as a crucial data-gathering exercise. It marked the first time cloud seeding was attempted in India during winter to specifically target pollution. While the trial, costing an estimated ₹50-60 lakhs, faced political questions over its efficacy, scientists recorded a 6 to 10 percent reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 particles, providing a valuable foundation for future attempts to clear Delhi's toxic air.