The Delhi government on Tuesday, October 28, said that its first artificial rain experiment, a cloud seeding operation conducted in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, was “100% successful", asserting that the initiative had reduced air pollution levels despite low humidity. The announcement came amid sharp exchanges between the ruling administration and the opposition over the scientific and financial aspects of the project.

Environment Minister Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the trial proved that even under challenging conditions of 15-20% humidity, cloud seeding helped bring down particulate matter levels – PM2.5 and PM10 – by nearly 6-10%.

“Within seven months of this government taking charge, we identified IIT Kanpur, modified an aircraft, procured the necessary chemicals, and con

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