Updated on: Oct 21, 2025 | 6:58 PM IST

As Delhi grapples with another spell of toxic air following Diwali celebrations, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa addressed the city’s worsening air quality on Tuesday and offered a firm clarification on the government’s long-discussed proposal for artificial rain. Speaking at a press briefing, Sirsa ruled out any immediate cloud seeding activity, asserting that the process could only take place “when there are clouds,” a remark that drew both public attention and criticism.

The minister’s comments came amid mounting concerns over Delhi’s “very poor” Air Quality Index (AQI), which rose marginally after Diwali. According to data shared by the government, the city’s AQI stood at 341 before the festival and climbed to 356 after it — an increase of just 11 points. Despite this slight numerical change, the overall air quality remained in the “very poor” category, with several parts of the national capital witnessing hazardous pollution levels.

Cloud Seeding: A Promise Deferred

For years, artificial rain through cloud seeding has been discussed as a potential emergency intervention to reduce pollution levels in Delhi during the winter months. The process, which involves dispersing substances such as silver iodide or sodium chloride into the clouds to induce precipitation, has been proposed multiple times by successive governments, especially when the capital experiences its annual post-Diwali smog. However, logistical, scientific, and meteorological challenges have repeatedly delayed its implementation.

In his Tuesday briefing, Sirsa addressed growing criticism over the government’s delay in executing the plan. “For those asking us why we are not getting cloud seeding done, I want to tell these illiterate people—they are burning in vengeance and forget everything,” the minister said sharply. “In cloud seeding, the cloud comes first and then comes the seeding. So, when the clouds will come, then there will be seeding. The day there are clouds, then there will be seeding done and there will be rain as well.”

Sirsa’s pointed remarks were aimed at critics accusing the government of inaction. He reiterated that cloud seeding cannot be carried out in the absence of favorable weather conditions, and that the operation requires the presence of adequate moisture and cloud cover. Without these, even fully prepared aircraft and equipment would be of no use.

Air Quality Worsens After Diwali

Delhi woke up on Tuesday under a thick blanket of haze, with pollution levels spiking across the city. The air, already stagnant due to seasonal changes, became heavier after Diwali night when large-scale firecracker burning compounded existing pollutants from vehicular emissions, industrial sources, and stubble burning in neighboring states.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the SAMEER app revealed that 29 out of 31 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded “very poor” or “severe” AQI levels. The highest reading was observed in Bawana, where the AQI touched 429—categorized as “severe.” Several other areas, including Anand Vihar, Mundka, and Jahangirpuri, also registered hazardous air quality, while only two stations barely managed to stay below the “red” zone.

The spike in pollution was attributed to multiple factors. The primary contributors included the bursting of firecrackers during Diwali despite restrictions, stagnant meteorological conditions that trapped pollutants near the surface, crop residue burning in Punjab and Haryana, and relentless vehicular emissions within the city. Combined, these factors turned the post-festival atmosphere into a visible smog layer blanketing the skyline.

Government’s Position on Artificial Rain

While many residents had pinned hopes on the long-promised cloud seeding project as a relief measure, Sirsa’s remarks clarified that immediate artificial rain was not feasible. He emphasized that while technical preparations were complete, meteorological conditions remained the determining factor. “The day there are suitable clouds, we will go ahead with seeding. Everything is ready, but nature has to cooperate,” he said.

Earlier this month, Sirsa had announced that the government was coordinating with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to assess the possibility of artificial rainfall after Diwali. The minister had stated that once IMD gives its green signal based on weather conditions, the process would be initiated without delay. He had also confirmed that pilots had already completed trial flights over designated areas in Delhi where the operation is to be carried out, and that the aircraft had been equipped with the necessary seeding instruments.

“The planes are fully prepared, the crew has undergone training, and the geographical mapping of the target areas is complete,” Sirsa had earlier said. “We are ready from our side, but the timing depends on the presence of conducive cloud formations. Once IMD signals that conditions are favorable, the operation can be conducted within hours.”

Rising Health Concerns Amid ‘Very Poor’ AQI

The deterioration in Delhi’s air quality has once again sparked health concerns among citizens and medical professionals. The “very poor” category, with AQI values between 301 and 400, poses serious health risks, especially for people with respiratory or cardiac conditions, children, and the elderly. Exposure to such pollution levels can lead to breathing difficulties, throat irritation, coughing, and long-term complications such as reduced lung capacity.

Hospitals across the city reported an increase in patients complaining of respiratory distress since Diwali night. Doctors advised residents to avoid outdoor activities, wear N95 masks if stepping outside, and use air purifiers indoors. Schools in several districts also issued advisories recommending reduced physical activities for students.

The World Health Organization (WHO) prescribes that safe daily exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) should not exceed 15 µg/m³. However, Delhi’s PM2.5 concentrations during and after Diwali were often 20 to 25 times higher than this limit, underscoring the severity of the city’s pollution crisis.

Politics and Public Pressure

Sirsa’s comments also carried a political undertone, as opposition leaders and activists have repeatedly accused the BJP-led Delhi government of failing to implement effective measures to combat air pollution. Critics argue that announcements about artificial rain are often made for publicity rather than practical execution.

Environmental groups have also questioned the efficacy of cloud seeding as a sustainable solution. They point out that even if successful, artificial rain can only offer temporary relief and cannot address the structural causes of Delhi’s pollution, such as unchecked vehicular emissions, construction dust, and regional crop burning.

In response, the government maintains that it is working on multiple fronts, including stricter enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), coordination with neighboring states to curb stubble burning, and promoting the use of cleaner fuels. Sirsa’s office reiterated that cloud seeding is only one part of a broader strategy aimed at reducing pollution levels.

Awaiting Nature’s Cooperation

For now, Delhi must wait for favorable weather conditions before any artificial rain can be induced. With the monsoon long gone and winter setting in, natural rainfall is rare during this period, leaving cloud seeding dependent on sporadic cloud formation events.

“The intention is clear, the equipment is ready, but we cannot make clouds appear out of nowhere,” a senior official from the environment department said. “If there are clouds, even for a short duration, we will immediately carry out seeding operations. Until then, the focus remains on controlling emissions through enforcement and public cooperation.”

As residents of Delhi continue to inhale toxic air, the debate over artificial rain reflects both the city’s desperation for clean air and the limits of human control over nature. For now, as Minister Sirsa bluntly put it, “When the clouds will come, then there will be seeding.”

Until that day arrives, Delhi remains shrouded in its annual haze — waiting for a solution that is, quite literally, up in the air.