The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) expressed concerns on Friday regarding the cloud seeding trial conducted by the Delhi government in Burari, north Delhi. They accused the authorities of carrying out the trial without notifying local residents or public representatives.
Sanjeev Jha, the MLA of Burari, criticized the trial for not following standard procedures and lacking transparency. He mentioned that neither the residents nor he, as the local MLA, were informed about the exercise beforehand. Jha highlighted the absence of visibility of the aircraft involved in the trial.
The government was criticized for handling the event differently from other high-profile occasions like the arrival of Rafale jets or Cheetah helicopters. Jha raised concerns about potential risks posed by the chemicals used in the trial that could potentially harm crops and residents. He demanded a comprehensive report detailing the quantity and types of chemicals released during the experiment.
Questioning the choice of Burari for the trial, Jha pointed out the significant migrant population in the area. He questioned the effectiveness of targeting only north Delhi to address city-wide pollution issues. Jha deemed the decision insensitive and urged the government to provide a thorough impact assessment.
The Delhi government has not responded immediately to the allegations. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the city’s preparation for its inaugural artificial rain using cloud seeding as a crucial step in combating pollution. Gupta confirmed the completion of preparations and a successful trial in Burari.
The Chief Minister mentioned the expected cloudy conditions between October 28 and 30, with the possibility of Delhi experiencing its first artificial rain on October 29 if weather conditions permit. She described the initiative as a scientific and innovative approach to enhance air quality in the capital.
Officials stated that the trial involved the release of small quantities of silver iodide and sodium chloride from an aircraft. However, due to moisture levels below 20 percent, rainfall did not occur.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa noted that the proving flight, conducted by IIT Kanpur, evaluated the system’s durability and the coordination among various agencies, covering regions such as Meerut, Khekra, Burari, and Aligarh.