“Ready for cloud seeding, need permissions,” says Delhi Environment Minister as NCR gears up for winter pollution

New Delhi [India], September 1 (ANI): Gopal Rai, Delhi Environment Minister and AAP leader, released a statement on Sunday regarding the possibility of cloud seeding (artificial rain) and the construction of smog towers in Delhi.

Gopal Rai refuted the allegations by BJP leaders that the Delhi government was wasting money by not constructing smog towers. “Yesterday, BJP leaders said that money was wasted. They do not know that on the orders of the court, the Delhi government built a smog tower in Connaught Place and the centre built in Anand Vihar. In such a situation, how did the Delhi government waste money?”, said the Delhi Environment minister.

Rai criticised the condition of the smog tower built by the Union government in Anand Vihar, he added, “Also, find out what the condition of the smog tower built by the Centre is, and why are you hiding the smog tower of Anand Vihar. We are always ready to give all kinds of support to the Centre.”

On August 30, the minister had requested Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav to convene an urgent meeting with stakeholders about cloud seeding for combating Delhi’s winter air pollution and secure necessary permissions.

“BJP leaders said yesterday that artificial rain has not been done anywhere till now. I want to tell them that we are not talking about this for the first time in Delhi. In 2008, when the Olympics were going to be held in China, China had artificial rain. When there was a forest fire, Malaysia had artificial rain. Last year, artificial rain was done in Lahore.” Rai said in a statement today.

Rai further claimed that the Delhi government is ready to arrange the necessary funds for cloud seeding, but the Delhi government has not been able to acquire the necessary permissions from various departments.

“For artificial rain, permission is required from many departments, including DGCA, several ministries, CPCB, and the Airport Authority of India. The Delhi government will arrange the money, but we cannot give the rest of the permissions. Yesterday, BJP leaders started speaking against me about how I wrote a letter to the Centre. Delhi’s contribution to the pollution that the people of Delhi have to face is only 31 per cent, the rest comes from the neighbouring states.”

He also claimed that the Delhi government had held a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwat Mann in July of this year regarding the pollution in Delhi, while they were not able to hold meetings with governments of Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.

Rai said, “I want to tell them (BJP leaders) that there is no need to write a letter to Bhagwant Mann. We have already held a meeting with Bhagwant Mann in July. There are BJP governments in Haryana, UP and Rajasthan, talks can be held with them only through the Centre. I have been writing letters for five years, but the Union Environment Minister does not have time.”