Delhi AQI has reached "severe plus" levels of 500, making it dangerous for residents. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has sought the Centre's approval for artificial rain (cloud seeding) to combat the toxic smog. This video explains how cloud seeding works, 7 how it can help clear pollutants from the air.
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NewsTranscript
00:00It's not that when the pollution level increases, it becomes a guideline.
00:07Because if the mid-time is like this every year, then the mid-time will be permanently developed as a disease.
00:15This Ferrari is burning, the factory, the unauthorized factory is burning, this is its smoke.
00:25It should rain every 8 to 10 minutes. Why isn't it raining?
00:55Delhi's lungs are choking and every breath we take is tainted.
01:15The question is, how did we get here?
01:19Just a decade ago, Delhi's AQI ranged between 100 to 150, which still indicated pollution, but was not as dire as today's level.
01:29But as the years passed, the situation worsened dramatically.
01:34Today, Delhi's AQI is not just a number, it is a health crisis.
01:40The shift started with rapid urbanization, rising vehicular emission, industrial growth and a growing population.
01:48But what really tipped the scale was the combination of stubble burning in neighboring state and the cold winter air,
01:56which traps pollutants closer to the ground.
01:59And now we are at a breaking point.
02:06Delhi's air has now been classified as a medical emergency.
02:11Health experts are alarmed and public concern is mounting.
02:15The Delhi government has been relentless, implementing measures like restricting vehicle movement,
02:21imposing Grab Stage 4 restrictions and even requesting central government interventions.
02:27Environment Minister Gopal Rai has been vocal about the situation,
02:31urging the Centre to approve artificial rain, a possible and only solution to this environmental catastrophe.
02:40Now let's understand what is artificial rain or cloud seeding?
02:45Well, it is a process that might sound like a science fiction, but could be the key to elevating Delhi's suffocating smog.
02:53Cloud seeding is a form of weather modification used to enhance rainfall, which can help clear out the toxic particles in the air.
03:02The process involves introducing chemicals like silver iodide, potassium chloride or even dry ice into the clouds,
03:10either from aircraft or ground-based generators.
03:14These substances act as nuclei for water vapour, encouraging the formation of water droplets that coalesce to form rain.
03:24Within about half an hour, the sky could be releasing water and pollutants settle to the ground.
03:30The rain clears the air, reducing smog and potentially improving the AQI.
03:36But it is not as simple as it sounds.
03:39The process requires authorization from several central government agencies,
03:44including the Ministry of Defence, DGCA and Airport Authority of India.
03:49The Delhi government has already sought approval multiple times, but bureaucratic hurdles remain.
03:55Why is cloud seeding so important now?
03:59With Delhi's AQI hovering at the 500 mark, traditional methods are simply not enough.
04:05The solution needs to be bold, innovative and immediate.
04:10Cloud seeding offers hope, helping to mitigate the crisis by reducing pollutants faster than any road cleaning or industrial shutdown could.
04:19The process would need to be repeated several times, depending on the severity of the air pollution
04:26and should be used as part of a larger strategy to tackle pollution at its root causes.
04:35As Delhi struggles to breathe, time is running out.
04:38The people of Delhi cannot wait for another government meeting or endless paperwork.
04:44The toxic air is here, and it is here to stay unless swift action is taken.
04:50Artificial rain might sound like a dream, but it is a dream that must be made into a reality.
04:57If cloud seeding works, it could provide a temporary but much-needed respite.
05:03But long-term solution, drastic changes in policy, vehicle management, industrial regulation
05:09and most importantly, tackling the source of crop residue burning must follow.
05:16Delhi's battle against air pollution is no more just an environmental issue.
05:21It has now become a serious health emergency for the city.
05:25The city is suffocating, and the time is to act now.
05:30We will wait until the city becomes uninhabitable, or we will rise above the smog to take breath of fresh air once again.
05:39The time will only tell.
05:41Until then, keep watching One India for more such updates.