The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday sharply criticised the Delhi government over its ongoing cloud seeding initiative, questioning its scientific basis and cost-effectiveness.
“The Rekha Gupta government has been running a cloud seeding circus for days now,” Bharadwaj said while speaking. “In December 2024, the Central government had already informed the Delhi administration that rainfall through cloud seeding was not scientifically feasible in Delhi. Why is the government wasting taxpayers’ money on this circus?”
He further alleged that if independent agencies were to probe the matter, it could become a case for the CBI or ACB. “You can see there has been no rain,” he added.
Earlier in the day, AAP national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar also attacked the Rekha Gupta-led BJP government in Delhi, claiming that it was falsely taking credit for natural rainfall.
“It’s shameful that the BJP lied, claiming it had induced artificial rain in Karol Bagh, Mayur Vihar, and Burari. When we checked, not a single drop had fallen. The BJP works only for optics and headline management,” Kakkar said. She also alleged irregularities in the cloud seeding project, calling it a “major scam.”
Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa defended the initiative, stating that the next trial will take place once atmospheric moisture rises above current levels.
“Yesterday’s trial was conducted when moisture levels were only around 10–15 per cent. The next round will be held once moisture increases beyond that. As per the IMD, levels are expected to rise after 4 PM,” Sirsa said.
Taking a swipe at the previous AAP administration, Sirsa added, “A government that failed for ten years cannot criticise us. They couldn’t clean Delhi’s air or water, nor create the conditions needed for cloud seeding.”
According to IIT Kanpur, which is supporting the initiative, the process depends heavily on atmospheric moisture. While rainfall could not be induced due to limited humidity, IIT Kanpur reported that the trial still provided useful data.
“The monitoring stations across Delhi recorded a 6–10 per cent reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 levels, suggesting that cloud seeding can help improve air quality even under limited moisture,” IIT Kanpur stated. “These insights will guide future operations to achieve better results.”
The Delhi government has so far conducted two consecutive cloud seeding operations as part of its broader air quality management strategy.
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique that involves dispersing substances such as silver iodide or sodium chloride into the atmosphere to encourage rainfall from suitable clouds.
