The news about Delhi undertaking its first full-scale cloud seeding operation to combat the relentless smog has certainly caught my attention Delhi conducts first full-scale cloud seeding to fight toxic smog, artificial rain likely soon, IIT K successfully executes a cloud-seeding operation over Delhi, Delhi’s First Artificial Rain: When Will It Rain After Cloud Seeding?.
It's a striking example of how dire the situation has become, pushing us to explore extraordinary measures to ensure breathable air for the capital's residents.
I see that the Delhi government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta approved this experiment, and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has been vocal about its potential to reduce pollution levels. The involvement of IIT-Kanpur, using aircraft to disperse chemicals like silver iodide and sodium chloride, is a testament to the scientific effort behind this.
This attempt at artificial rain, while innovative, immediately brought to mind my past reflections on localized air pollution solutions. The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. I had already predicted the challenges of short-term, localized fixes for a pervasive problem, and I had even proposed a solution at the time: addressing the root causes. Now, seeing how things have unfolded with Delhi turning to cloud seeding, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
Back in 2019, when discussions around combating toxic air involved ideas like smog towers, I recall the insights shared by experts. Sagnik Dey from the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences had expressed uncertainty about the effectiveness of purifiers not tried in Delhi (sagnik@cas.iitd.ac.in) Explore hydrogen fuel, smog towers to combat toxic air, Supreme Court tells Centre. Rakesh Kumar, then Director of CSIR-NEERI, noted that while prototypes existed, they offered limited success against ambient air pollution and were not lasting solutions unless sources were controlled Explore hydrogen fuel, smog towers to combat toxic air, Supreme Court tells Centre, Air Purifier Towers in Mumbai. V K Shukla of the Central Pollution Control Board also acknowledged their effectiveness in only limited areas Explore hydrogen fuel, smog towers to combat toxic air, Supreme Court tells Centre, Air Purifier Towers in Mumbai.
My consistent stance has been that while such technological interventions can offer temporary relief, they often sidestep the fundamental issue of pollution sources. I wrote about "Anti – Pollution Towers" back in March 2019, anticipating the debate around their efficacy IIT Delhi working on solutions to curb growing air pollution. More recently, recalling Alastair Lewis of the University of York and Sunil Dahiya from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (sunil@envirocatalysts.com), both of whom critically assessed smog towers, their arguments about the sheer volume of air that needs to be processed resonate deeply with the challenges of cloud seeding for widespread air quality improvement Air Purifier Towers in Mumbai.
I also think of Arun Duggal who was part of earlier conversations about solutions to curb growing air pollution, emphasizing that a multi-faceted approach, rooted in addressing the causes rather than just the symptoms, is essential IIT Delhi working on solutions to curb growing air pollution. Even Captain Singh featured in my past discussions on this vital topic IIT Delhi working on solutions to curb growing air pollution. And Iqbal Chahal, in Mumbai's context, acknowledged the need for tailored solutions, distinct from those implemented elsewhere, when discussing air purifier towers Air Purifier Towers in Mumbai.
The underlying problem, as highlighted by a recent report revisiting the IIT Kanpur-TERI study, points to road dust, traffic emissions, and stubble fires as primary polluters in Delhi-NCR Vehicles, Road Dust & Industries Main Delhi-NCR Polluters. This echoes my own concerns from years past, where I advocated for stringent vehicle regulations, water sprinkling on roads, and promoting public transportation. These are the sustained efforts that truly make a difference.
While I commend the Delhi government and scientists for their innovative pursuit of solutions, I remain convinced that such interventions must be complemented by relentless efforts to control pollution at its source. Artificial rain might offer fleeting relief, but true, lasting change requires a systemic overhaul.
Regards, Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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