Why Cloud Seeding Won’t Solve Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis
Experts caution that cloud seeding is not a viable solution to Delhi’s persistent air pollution. The city continues to suffer from dangerously high levels of pollutants due to vehicle emissions, industrial activity, construction dust, power plants, waste burning, and crop residue fires in neighboring states. While cloud seeding aims to induce rainfall, it can only work if sufficient clouds are present and provides at best a temporary reduction in airborne particulate matter.
Environmentalists argue that relying on such interventions risks diverting attention from long-term, evidence-based strategies to tackle the root causes of pollution. Measures such as stricter vehicular emission norms, industrial regulation, efficient waste management, and agricultural residue control are critical for sustained improvement in air quality. Without addressing these underlying sources, temporary rainfall from cloud seeding cannot achieve meaningful or lasting relief for Delhi’s residents, leaving the city exposed to recurring smog and associated health risks.
