Waste of taxpayers’ money: AAP slams BJP over cloud seeding trial

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday accused the government of misleading the public over its recent cloud seeding trial, describing it as a “waste of taxpayers’ money” and citing a 2024 Parliamentary reply which deemed artificial rain unfeasible in Delhi’s winter conditions.

In December 2024, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, stated that expert agencies including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had advised against using cloud seeding to address pollution during Delhi’s winter months.

The Ministry’s response had noted that winter clouds in the region were largely formed due to Western Disturbances, which are short-lived and move rapidly from west to east. It further stated that high-altitude clouds, typically at elevations above 5–6 km, could not be seeded because of aircraft limitations.

The statement also warned that any developed precipitation could evaporate before reaching the surface due to the dry atmospheric layer beneath the clouds during Delhi’s cold months.

Additionally, the government had cautioned about uncertainties, efficacy and potential adverse effects of cloud seeding chemicals.

Citing this response, the AAP said the government had ignored scientific advice and proceeded with the trial purely for publicity. “Delhi’s BJP government is pulling a big fraud on the people of Delhi. Why should the city’s taxpayers fund this circus of Rekha Gupta’s government?” the party said in a statement.

The AAP added that expert advice shared with the Delhi government late in 2024 had clearly warned that artificial rain was not viable in winter and that “even if clouds precipitate, rain will evaporate before hitting the ground.”

Each cloud seeding sortie costs Rs 64 lakh?

The Delhi Cabinet approved the cloud seeding project on May 7, allocating Rs 3.21 crore for five trials, which translates to roughly Rs 64 lakh per attempt. As per these estimates, Tuesday’s trial would cost around Rs 1.2 crore.

However, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said each round of cloud seeding costs between Rs 30 and Rs 35 lakh, adding that the total expense for about nine to 10 operations would be close to Rs 3 crore.

Planned in partnership with IIT-Kanpur, the trials were initially scheduled for late May and early June but faced two postponements: first to late August and early September due to the southwest monsoon’s arrival, and again as rains persisted in the region.

Trial successful: Sirsa

Defending the initiative, Sirsa described the recent trial as “100% successful,” claiming it met all technical expectations despite the absence of rainfall.

“According to the IMD, there is still 10 to 15 per cent moisture. Yesterday, our trial was conducted at 10 to 15 per cent moisture and now the next trial will be held when the moisture exceeds that level,” Sirsa said.

He said, “Areas such as Mayur Vihar and Burari recorded a decline of up to 41.9% in particulate matter (PM10) levels. These areas also saw a significant improvement in their Air Quality Index (AQI) levels.”