National News: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has said that cloud seeding has become a ‘necessity’ for the national capital as air pollution has risen following the Diwali festival. The BJP leader made these remarks a day after announcing plans for artificial rain to help curb pollution. She said, ‘Cloud seeding is an important step for Delhi and will be the first such experiment here. We want to try this to see if it can help us manage this serious environmental problem.’ CM Gupta added that public support gives her confidence the project will succeed and help reduce future environmental challenges.
Artificial Rain Planned for October 29
After conducting a test in Delhi’s Burari area, CM Gupta said that if weather conditions remain suitable, Delhi could see its first artificial rain on October 29. According to the weather department, cloudy conditions are expected on October 28, 29, and 30. Gupta shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the final decision will depend on these weather patterns. She added that the initiative is both technologically advanced and a scientific approach to tackling pollution. The government’s goal is to clean Delhi’s air and restore balance to the environment through this new step.
Pollution Levels Reach Severe Category
After the Diwali celebrations, air quality in Delhi and nearby areas dropped to the ‘severe’ category, mainly due to firecracker use. Experts noted that this yearly problem worsens with the arrival of winter, trapping pollutants closer to the ground. During the first 19 days of October, Delhi’s air was mainly affected by gases like ozone (O₃) and carbon monoxide (CO). However, after Diwali, the air became dominated by particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) — small particles that are dangerous to breathe.
Experts Link Pollution Spike to Combustion Sources
Environmental experts told Hindustan Times that the sudden rise in particulate matter shows a sharp increase in combustion-based emissions, mainly from firecrackers, vehicles, industries, and local burning. From October 20 onwards, the day of Diwali, gases like ozone and carbon monoxide disappeared from the air quality charts, replaced by harmful particulate matter. This shift indicates how much the city’s pollution is driven by human activities during and after festive celebrations.
