LUCKNOW: The Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) successfully tested artificial rain via cloud-seeding. On Wednesday, a plane took off from the institute's airfield and climbed to a height of 5,000 feet before spraying clouds with powder, which caused torrential rain.
After the Uttar Pradesh government reached out to assist Bundelkhand with artificial rains in 2017, it took IIT-Kanpur six years to make this happen. China had agreed to sow clouds in Mahoba at the time for a cost of Rs. 10.30 lakh per kilometer. It would not, however, divulge the information, and the initiative was abandoned.
The project was started by IIT Kanpur in 2017. After gaining approval from the DGCA, the civil aviation regulator, the experiment was carried out. In the event of extreme air pollution and drought, cloud seeding will be a comfort. In order to thicken clouds and increase the likelihood of rain, various chemical substances, such as silver iodide, dry ice, and even table salt, are combined with them.
They succeeded in creating artificial rain using cloud seeding after six years of tenacious research. In particular, the technology used in this process is anticipated to have no negative consequences on the environment, making it a sustainable response to the problems associated with water scarcity.
Although the most recent test flight represents a significant achievement, additional analyses and evaluations by the regulatory body, DGCA, are necessary to ascertain whether performing more extended testing is feasible. However, the achievement at IIT Kanpur raises fresh hopes for addressing the problem of water scarcity and reducing the effects of haze in cities like Delhi.
Technology to create artificial rain has applications in tackling urban pollution conditions, going beyond regional water management. In reality, IIT Kanpur has previously developed a project targeted at generating artificial rain in Delhi as a potential remedy for the problems with the city's air pollution.
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