**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 1266, posed in Lok Sabha, regarding cloud-seeding to curb air pollution. The response, provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, confirms a pilot project in Delhi NCR with an estimated cost of Rs. 3.2146 Crore, sanctioned to IIT Kanpur. The answer addresses various aspects of the project, including planning, reasons, expert consultation, environmental impacts, expenditures, and potential extensions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Pilot Project Confirmation:**
* A pilot project titled "Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation" has been initiated by the Government of NCT of Delhi.
* **Financial Details:**
* The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 3.2146 Crore.
* The project has been sanctioned to IIT Kanpur.
* **Scope of Inquiry (Questions Addressed):**
* The Government has been asked if it has any plans to extend cloud-seeding to drought prone areas of Tirunelveli district during drought like conditions, and to provide the reasons if not.
* Expenditure incurred on the cloud seeding trial conducted in Delhi in October 2025 is requested, agency and head-wise.
**Impact Analysis**
**IIT Kanpur**
* **Impact:** Will receive funds and undertake the sanctioned cloud-seeding pilot project.
* **Action Required:** Execute the project as per the sanctioned proposal.
**Government of NCT of Delhi**
* **Impact:** Oversees the "Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation" Pilot project.
* **Action Required:** Ensure effective execution and monitoring of the cloud-seeding pilot project.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The primary subject of the question, responsible for addressing issues related to cloud seeding.
Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation: A pilot project undertaken to evaluate cloud seeding for pollution mitigation in Delhi NCR.
Delhi NCR: Location where the pilot project on cloud seeding is being implemented.
IIT Kanpur: Institution to which the cloud seeding project has been sanctioned.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1266
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
Cloud-Seeding to curb Air Pollution
1266. SHRI SUNIL BOSE:
SHRI K C VENUGOPAL:
DR. KALYAN VAIJINATHRAO KALE:
SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C:
DR. RAJ KUMAR CHABBEWAL:
DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has planned or approved any cloud-seeding or weather-
modification projects in the country, if so, the details and outcome thereof;
(b) the reasons for proceeding with the cloud seeding, despite the Meteorological
Department’s warning of insufficient cloud cover for seeding.
(c) whether the experts have been consulted in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government is aware of any potential adverse environmental impacts of the
use of cloud seeding as a pollution control measure in the country, if so, the details thereof
and if not, the reasons therefor;
(e) the details of the total expenditure incurred on the cloud seeding trial conducted in Delhi
in October 2025 agency and head-wise.
(f) the details of tendering, procurement and payments made to private or research
institutions involved in the trial and whether the Government will publish the audit or
utilisation report of the funds utilised and if so, the timeline for its release; and
(g) whether the Government has any plans to extend cloud-seeding to drought prone areas
of Tirunelveli district during drought like conditions and the details thereof, if not, the
reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (g): As reported by Dept. of Environment, Government of National Capital Territory of
Delhi, a pilot project titled “Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as
an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation” has been taken up by the Govt. of NCT of
Delhi. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 3.2146 Crore, and has been sanctioned to IIT
Kanpur.