New Delhi, July 1 (PTI): The much-anticipated cloud seeding project aimed at curbing air pollution in Delhi has been postponed, with the new tentative dates set for the end of August, as explained by Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday.
During a press conference, Minister Sirsa revealed the deferment, attributing it to the monsoon rains currently sweeping the capital, which present less-than-optimal conditions for cloud seeding. The project, originally scheduled between July 4 and July 11, had been planned to be executed after July 3 as prior conditions were deemed unsuitable.
Following consultations with meteorological experts and a thorough assessment of the ongoing weather patterns, a revised window from August 30 to September 10 has been proposed by the project team. This period is anticipated to coincide with the receding monsoon, providing more favorable cloud formations for the seeding process.
The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Kanpur, experts from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, and the India Meteorological Department. A Cessna 206-H aircraft (VT-IIT) will be employed to execute the seeding operation.
"All necessary permissions, including aerial work clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), have been secured. The operation will adhere to all safety and environmental guidelines," Minister Sirsa confirmed, further mentioning that photographers will be prohibited during the operation to maintain compliance with standard operating procedures.
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)