BMC Delays Cloud Seeding Process In Mumbai - Here's Why

The plans to conduct the cloud seeding process has been delayed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

This development came as the air quality index (AQI) saw an improvement in Mumbai owing to several other measures such as stringent actions against construction sites and daily road washing, an official claimed.

Few months ago, following directives from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the BMC invited expressions of interest to conduct cloud seeding for reducing air pollution through artificial rain.

In December, three Bengaluru-based firms and companies from Navi Mumbai and Karnataka submitted their bids. However, the BMC is yet to make a final decision on the proposal.

Besides, the civic body is also in talks with a Dubai-based company with expertise in cloud seeding, although there has been limited response from the company, according to civic sources.

A senior civic official stated, several measures have been implemented in the last two months that have helped maintain the city's AQI in the 'moderate' category. Therefore, there is currently no urgency to carry out the cloud seeding experiment. Additionally, we need to scrutinise the documents, experience, and capabilities of the bidding firms to ensure positive results.

As a precautionary measure, they have kept the option of cloud seeding open, considering the uncertainty of AQI. The officials will study the project in detail before making a decision.

The air quality showed an improvement on Monday morning, January 8, with the overall air quality index touching 103.

Of the city’s 24 stations, 12 recorded an AQI in two digits with the best score observed in Borivali East (75), followed by Mulund West (85) and Byculla (86). The worst air quality has been recorded in Powai, where the AQI stands at 125.

According to the weather bureau, the city is witnessing an improved AQI on account of the early arrivals of westerly winds.

For the unversed, cloud seeding is a technique aimed at enhancing the probability of rain.

The first cloud seeding experiment in 2009 failed to increase water levels in Tansa and Modak Sagar lakes, where an INR 8 crore experiment was conducted.