Can Artificial Rain In Delhi Really Improve Air Quality, Reduce Pollution?

Artificial rain in Delhi is catching everyone’s attention across the country. Imagine a situation where the air in Delhi, known for its pollution, gets so bad that breathing becomes difficult. 

To tackle this, scientists and the government are thinking about creating rain artificially. This might sound like something out of a science fiction story, but it’s a real technique being considered.

Artificial rain is like summoning rain on demand. It involves using planes or drones to spray chemicals like silver iodide or potassium chloride into clouds. 

These chemicals encourage water droplets in the clouds to come together and fall as rain. It’s a bit like adding a tiny seed around which a pearl forms in an oyster.

Why Is The Govt Making Artificial Rain?

Delhi’s air quality worsens drastically during winter months, partly due to stubble burning in neighboring states, vehicle emissions, and firecrackers during festivals. This creates a thick blanket of smog, making the air harmful to breathe. The idea behind artificial rain is to use it to wash away these pollutants from the air.

Can This Really Improve Delhi’s Air Quality?

Today, Delhi, and its neighboring areas like Noida and Gurugram experienced unexpected light rain overnight. This rain brought some relief from the severe air pollution that the National Capital Region has been facing. 

The showers helped in reducing the overall pollution levels in the city​​​​. The air quality, which was recorded at 407 by SAFAR, the government’s air-quality monitoring agency, showed an improvement due to this sudden rainfall​​. Natural rain can have a positive impact on improving air quality, albeit temporarily.

But it’s a bit complicated about artificial rain. While artificial rain can temporarily bring down the pollution level by settling the pollutants into the ground, it’s not a permanent solution. 

The pollutants don’t vanish; they just move from the air to the ground. Plus, there are challenges like needing the right type of clouds and weather conditions for this method to work.

What Is The Actual Solution?

If artificial rain isn’t a silver bullet, what should the government do? It’s about attacking the problem at its root. This means stricter control on pollution sources like vehicles and industries, finding alternatives to stubble burning, and encouraging public transport. 

Efforts should be made to increase green cover in the city. Plus, creating awareness among people about the impact of their actions, like maintaining their vehicles, on air quality is essential.

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While artificial rain can be a part of the solution to Delhi’s air quality crisis, it’s not the complete answer. Long-term and sustainable measures focusing on reducing pollution at its source are crucial. The government, along with citizens, needs to work together to bring a real change in the air quality of Delhi.